It's Bing cherry season. I love Bing cherries. I love them more than, say, chocolate. In fact, if given the choice, I'd take a bowl o' cherries over chocolate any day. Right now I've got a bowl of them here next to me. They're mine! Can you hear me growling? No one dare come near! Soon enough the season will be over and I'll have to go back to chocolate.
Pom-pom dahlia 'Pink Delight'So, lately I've been thinking a lot about distractions. You know, those tasks that come to your attention when you're say, traipsing towards the compost pile under an armload of just-pruned and ready-to-kill vampire-esque Rugosa rose canes. On the way you glance absentmindedly over your shoulder, where your new [and expensive] hydrangea has been conspiring with the crookneck squashes. [Or maybe they're praying.] With weakened stems, the leaves and petals are curling into the fetal position in an attempt to shade themselves from summer's heat. What to do? What to do....? Drop the canes and risk another (yes I'm already bleeding) injury or keep my "water the hydrangea" chore pinned to my cerebral bulletin board?
I am the queen of distraction, at least when it comes to garden tasks. This is why I gave up tending others' gardens professionally. It was that esoteric completing a task that tripped me up. No fun. And now, rather than bemoaning my gardening ADD, I'm embracing my side-track tendencies and actually welcoming the deviations. They keep things interesting and give my mind something to do until I have to actually use it.
Clematis viticella 'Purpurea Plena Elegans' So briefly, if I may, a typical trek into my world: Wander outdoors with no real objective. Just to be. On the deck, a new tragically root bound dahlia that needs to be planted, stat. Where's the hand trowel? Crap. By the pond? Okay. Crap. Look at those nasty yellowing water lily leaves. Drop the trowel, down on all fours to snap them from their submerged [and slimy] stems. Gross. Up. Dizzy. Crap. Over to a surreptitious weed bucket. Oh. Man those sweet peas smell so good. Where are my pruners? Back to the deck. What was I looking for? Oh, yes, the dahlia. Oh yes, the trowel. But wait. Coreopsis rosea 'Limerock Ruby' stationed in full sun, is on the verge of total dessication. Watering can? No. I'll use the hose. Wow. Check out those gold finches. I adore goldfinches. Here kitty. Don't go near them or you're dead meat. [Not really.] Wow. Bumper crop of raspberries. Yum. Now... oh yes the Coreopsis.... Telephone. Crap. I'm back. I'm starving. More raspberries. Leaning canes. Stick and string where are you? Damn that dahlia. Where did I leave my trowel? It's getting hot. I need a breather... Tell me I'm not alone!
Passiflora 'Coral Glow' 
Achillea millefolium 'Heidi' 
Pennisetum rubrum 'Tri-Color' with
Coleus 'Shocking Pink' Before I get side-tracked [ahem...] I need to mention that there is an article on Dancing Oaks Nursery in the current [August/September 2009] issue of Horticulture magazine. Multi-talented Lucy Hardiman [a garden celebrity in these parts] writes about the nursery's history and the philosophy of owners, Fred and Leonard. If I do say so myself, it's a nice accompaniment to my Dancing Oaks blog posts in June.
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21 COMMENTS, Click here to add yours:
I'm laughing, because that is me in the yard. Noticing empty bird feeders, plants that need to be staked, wilting plants that have somehow missed watering, etc. It's hard to stay focused somewhere where there are soooo many distractions. I really enjoyed this post!
Cherries are good, but nothing can top chocolate, unless it's peanut butter and chocolate :)
O.K. Grace, how did you do that? How could you describe my day? Well, with one difference: instead of the crap word I say the word that nobody understands here, just me. I would add just one more moment: it happens sometimes, that I never find something that I was holding in my hands when I got distracted. It's July, but I still didn't plant the asters. Where is the package? So, you are definitely not alone! However, your garden is fantastic even having such a distractive owner.
You are definitely not alone. I swear I have ADD every time I garden. I only wish my garden was as beautiful as yours. Thanks for such a funny post! -Jackie
Great post, Grace. You are not alone! In fact, this post is likely to get crowded very soon!
OMG .... Grace ... I could have but my name in this post and it would have made total sense to me !
I am NOT ALONE in this state of "Garden Brain" !!
Even the thing about Bing cherries .. another obsession of mine is parsly .. I grow about 3 containers of it and I must have it when the chopped back croup rises again ... amazing how much we actually love healthy food in the summer ?
My husband says my pruners need a beeper locator on them .. and I even have several pairs that I put down every where but where I start to look for them ?
How strange so many of us have a constantly diverted mind while in the garden .. it must mean something but I haven't found out what yet ? LOL
Beautiful pictures : )
Hubby's computer has a hidden spell check some where .. yet another thing I can't find ?? : )
LOL! You have me laughing so hard, maybe because it is hitting home ;-) But there are just so many things now to catch your eye and keep you off track.
I love your clematis Purpurea Plena Elegans' it is just so pretty. Since I am such a fan of yarrow I really love your lush looking 'Heidi'. Mine are sadly Fading in color now.
Have a great weekend
Brilliant blog and boy... do I know that feeling!! Lovely pictures too. Thanks for making me laugh when the rain is pouring down here.
Grace:
The addled brain of the plant connoisseur - I am so glad that it is not a malady that I suffer alone. What frightens me is the fact that I suffer from these same 'bouts' on a property that could fit into one of your smaller borders! I even went so far as to paint the handle of the trowel, but with the kids crowding around to welcome the newest addition it is still next to impossible to locate! This is a wonderful post that I hope all of our Blotanical freinds find.... I say with confidence that you are not alone!
Oh, Grace, I laughed all the way through this post, and read parts of it to my husband, who was in the room!
First off, I had chocolate in my mouth as I was reading about cherries being better. I am normally eating cherries while computing in the evenings, but since our grandson was here, and lying down this afternoon, I had my cherries then. I tried to blog, but ended up having to rock him, as he fights sleep. Then, I got up and worked in the kitchen.
I am like you, and buy cherries, even when the price isn't so great. I figure the season is short, and I am blessed to be able to splurge on things like that.
I think I still may be the queen of getting sidetracked, though. I do the same thing with housework. I start out doing something, then need to go to another room, and get involved in something there.
Thanks again for the laugh! It's good to know I'm not the only one, and there are others I see who can also relate.
Oh, and I enjoyed your photos. My clematis Plena Elegans is finished blooming, and doesn't look like most clematis when they are finished. I'm trying to decide if I should deadhead it or wait to see if the seedheads are decorative.
Too funny. I actually caught myself the other day saying in the garden, "Stay focused Darla, stay focused."
Here I am reading your blog on my way to shower which I started to do an hour ago, but oh, those distractions. Had to check the weather to see if I need to further ventilate the greenhouses today.
Looks like you found your truly pink yarrow.
I know I owe you a big long email...too many sidetracks.
We are on the same wavelength Grace, lol. I find myself all over the place lately. Come August I will probably throw my hands up in the air & hibernate to the A/C. ;) Looks like your OCD has paid off in your garden, mine is not looking as lush with the lack of rainfall we've had in the past month. Grrr...
Too funny, Grace. I thought I was one of the only seriously ADD adults that gardened on the planet. Nice to know I am not alone. Your garden looks lovely!
Hmm. Sounds awfully familiar, right down to the part about getting dizzy. That not only describes my gardening habits, but also my life in general. I wish I was more organized about completing tasks, but it just isn't in the cards.
You have posted woinderful picture of flowers that is appreciated.
Grace, is the article on Dancing Oaks in the June/July issue? I can't seem to locate it.....
Sharon
OMG....Grace! This is so so true! I've actually started to make a list of the couple of things I plan to accomplish during the day. Often I find myself having used up hours and not done the 2 things I set out to do. But lots of other things were done, or rather, started.
Grace, I had to chuckle, I too am easily distracted when out in the garden. I have so many little things going on I lose track of where I started. Lately, I have been giving myself a little lecture, as in "no Jennifer, finish up what you are doing, before you tackle that little chore you have just seen needs doing. DO YOU HEAR ME? I said finish up!!"
Your garden is beautiful.
I did not know we can grow a Passiflora vine here. I love these, so next season I will find a place to grow one.
I love walking through your garden on Blogger. WONDERFUL POM-POM! Happy Summer to you dear friend in the garden.
Grace, How many times can a person talk to herself while she's outdoors being sidetracked? ;-) I seem to have to remind myself of the task at hand quite often - and then, there's still "that weed" that is suddenly looming, or "that tool" outdoors (I cannot believe I did that yesterday!). I'm also diverted (terribly) by the computer during prime gardening time. So, Thank you for this post. Thank you to all the respondees that tell me I'm not alone! :-) Have a wonderful day!
And beyond all that, your garden photos show much beauty at your home!!!
Its very nice collection of picture of flowers thanks
Florist
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