Warm Up On The Way

Nice spring container (seen above) that I photographed at Olbrich Botanical Gardens last year. Lots of edible greens and cool season plants in these containers. Many of us wait until late May or June to plant our summer containers. However, don't forget that you can have a solid 4-6 weeks of interest with an earlier container with frost tolerant plants. The yellow blooms are pot marigolds (Calendula officinalis) which also have edible flowers. Olbrich is currently having their spring show entitled "A Simpler Time: Garden Beauty and Bounty" that will also feature edible plants. See www.olbrich.org/events/springshow.cfm for more details. I think I'll go this weekend. Warm weather on the way this week, including some rain. Nice winter container to the left as seen at the Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL). No soil in there, just cuttings.

Volunteers are starting to arrive this morning to work on painting and various tasks. Jerry is out pruning again as we try to finish our major pruning by the end of March. Larry's hauling all sorts of things around and will continue to work on equipment maintenance as distractions allow. On a non-horticulturally-related theme, I ran across an interesting commentary by the late comedian George Carlin. Included below, it's very interesting albeit uncharacteristic of him in terms of his comedy. Very well spoken and down to earth. Note container at the bottom at the post. Seen at Olbrich, the grass is the golden Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola') that is also the 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year. Lots of applications for this showy grass!

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."