Thursday, February 16, 2006

Blackbird singing in the dead of night...

...take these broken wings and learn to fly.
All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night,
take these sunken eyes and learn to see.
All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to be free.
(lyrics by Paul McCartney)


I know--this isn't really a blackbird, but we call it that because when you walk by, in your peripheral vision, it looks like a big black bird sitting in the garden.

I love this plant. I chose it at the nursery. In spite of my childhood dream to be a farmer, I have no capacity for gardening. I enjoy a beautiful garden yet every plant I have tried to grow has gone on to the great Garden of Eden in the sky.

For the last week, we have been enjoying beautiful sunny weather here in the Northwest. For convertible owners, it has been top down weather--as long as the heater works. Tonight they say it will be 23 degrees...Fahrenheit. Tomorrow night, 18 degrees. For dormant plants that have been thinking it might be time to wake up, the temperature drop could be death.

After work today, I loaded the wheelbarrow with bark dust and piled it on the place where my blackbird sleeps. I took a waxed cardboard box that hadn't made it to recycling yet and turned it upside down on the mound.

I feel kind of like my blackbird. I'm ready to come out of dormancy and am not quite sure of the timing. Is it too early? Will I freeze up?

Sometimes pulling the covers over my head and going back to sleep is the right thing to do. Every once in a while I will stick my toe out and check the temperature, but as long as it is freezing, I think I will stay under cover.

How about you?

Wanda Tucker, Coach

10 comments:

graceonline said...

These folks have a hotline where experts provide free gardening advice: http://www.seattletilth.org/hotline/.

They may be able to help you fix that dying plant problem real quick.

Wanda said...

I know they can help the plants. But can they help ME?

:)

graceonline said...

Hmmm. Even tho I suspect this question is asked in jest, it implies a need.

Sometimes the person whose role is to give, give, give needs extra attention herself.

How can we, your faithful readers, give something back to you?

Wanda said...

My dear graceonline...

Thank you for your sensitivity and for wanting to give something back to me.

I love it that you continue to visit and post comments. Anyone you care to send on over, is welcome to come join you.

What I meant about "Can they help ME?" was about my purple thumb. I have no earth in my chart...and growing plants has NEVER been my forte. So I was referring to that part of helping me.

Bless you. Thanks again.

graceonline said...

Oh yes, absolutely, they can help you. Ask.

And you are welcome. I love your photographs and your thoughts.

Wanda said...

Thanks.

Cowtown Pattie said...

Wanda - a perfect tribute to your "blackbird", and a fine example of good writing!

kario said...

What a great post! I can sympathize with the desire to stay under cover, but with the sun as glorious as it is today in Seattle, I thinkg I'll venture out for a look.

jennifer said...

Your talking my language!! Tweet tweet!!

Wanda said...

Yeah...and I think this was before I even knew you or your book!

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