Longevity

I am amazed each year when this lone Greigii tulip flowers. It has been in my garden since the first year I moved here, 29 years ago! There are quite a few other plants that have survived that long, including a huge swath of lavender plants, bee balm, iris, and day lilies. I need to spray the few unfenced tulips with deer spray or they will be eaten. 

These late daffodils just bloomed today - I like their little orange trumpets.

I have been spending my time going to medical appts. and pottering around the house, with a few errands sprinkled in. I just finished a round of vestibular therapy for my ear and balance issues. It's a miracle that I survived five separate flights on my recent trip with no further ear damage. As my ENT said, the damage is done. Now for another ear surgery in May - hopefully the last one.

The weather has been fine with a few thunderstorms interspersed, but there is so much to be done in the garden this time of year. I bought a new mailbox and post that I need to install at some point. The current one has been duct taped for the past 3 years and I'm shocked it lasted that long - duct tape is amazing stuff! I planted some shrubs and set up my vegetable garden next to the patio. 

I repurposed the wire shelves from my upstairs renovation a few years ago, into garden stands for my Earth Boxes. I want to avoid having them on the ground where rabbits and squirrels will be tempted, plus I won't have to bend over or kneel on the ground to tend my vegetables. 

A quick thunderstorm left this double rainbow behind.

Sunset was also quite magnificent.

I finally filed and paid my taxes at a new record for lateness. I had them all done since February, but funding the current regime has really disturbed me, so I put off paying until the very last minute. I can only hope that next year will be better in so many ways. 

I organized another trip to Cap Cod next month with Sue Ellen, Amyjean, and Patty B. We will bike ride, beach comb, play games, and generally have a good time. We are staying at the same 4 bedroom beach house for the third year in a row - though I am the only one on all three trips.  I'm realizing that many of my friends are not really willing to organize outings, so I guess if I want things to happen, I have to organize them myself. Along those lines I've set up a visit to the Berkshire Botanical Garden's plant sale in May with Dale and maybe Janice. 

Today I visited an estate sale in the next town over at an old mansion. It was a tremendous building with a parlor the size of my whole house. I didn't buy anything as the prices were too high, and I'm used to the thrift store pricing which is never more than a couple of dollars. Most of the furnishings were very fussy, old style items which would work perfectly in a museum. Definitely not in my home. 

Afterwards I worked in my garden. I'm attempting to turn the space above the wall in the picture above, into a flower garden. I planted a lavender and several day lilies after digging up the sod first. I notice that I don't have the stamina I had 20 years ago, since I need to rest often and I don't get as much done. 

The temperature hit 80°F today, and I have two more days of nice weather before it gets cold again. So I'll have to get the garden cleaned up while I can!