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     Blue Bird
                    BEHIND THE FENCE
       Flowers©Wax & Weeds
     
     
           Jim and I with two children live in the center of a small, historical, New England  country town.  Around the foundation of our quarter acre lot used to lay a neglected blanket of  *white clover, dandelions, crabgrass, and the ever relentless bittersweet vines.  I, from the city, wasn’t much into bugs and bees, and soiled knees!  Houseplants were my thing.  Hence, I resigned my enthusiasm for outdoor landscaping to porch pots of "Impatience" (astutely named).

           In the spring of 1992, I attended our town’s annual outdoor Garden Club Plant Sale for the first time to buy my usual porch plants.  I brought along my so called "Impatience" fund.  Early birds swarmed the site eyeing up first picks!  Ugh, only potted perennial cuttings and shrubs from members' yards were for sale.  Expressing my dilemma, a member guided me to a wagon full of hardy plant divisions.  Okay, I thought, I can dig a few holes in my yard to honor a worthy cause.  In each pot, was a popsicle stick with strange looking words written on them.  Too many syllables for a novice like me to bother with.  Therefore, I purchased six eeny-meeny-miney-moes.  I was quickly given a crash course in soil preparation by the accomodating member.

           As suggested, I planted them in two semi circles against the front of my house.  I checked the merciful plants daily.  I gave them a drink once in a while and scooted our cat "Cufflink " off them several times, but that was about it.  I decided a watched plot wouldn’t grow.

      ©Juelie's State Flowers
      CufflinkHawthorn flower
           The next spring, blooms were prolific!  The townsfolk were buzzing about it.  I was bitten by the bug and just itching for another plant sale.  Soon our front yard became a collage of plants and donated cuttings from neighbor gardeners.  Needless to say, I was getting my knees dirty.  I discovered that bulbs don’t benefit from salty shoveled snow, so "Sedum" took residency where the "Twinkles" wouldn’t grow.  "Japanese Iris" and "Poppies" partner a show!  "Yucca" is yukky invasive.  And deadhead doesn’t mean I’m lazy!
       
           Three years passed and it was time to branch out into our 70’x 25’ side lot.  I sifted through gardening books, magazines, and designed virtual gardens in my sleep.  I focused on plant heights, light, wind, a privacy screen, and even the urge to hear rippling water on a hot weeding day.  I didn’t know where to start, until one day, when we were offered as many rocks as we could roll into our pickup truck from a nearby retired rock pit and meadow.  Friends and family overwhelmingly volunteered to join the rock and roll gathering!

           Thus we began with a waterfall.  It was painstakingly reshaped until the water cascaded to mimic nature.  The heavier flat rocks were stacked aside, which inadvertently became a sitting wall around our small, kidney shaped fish pond. From this point, the new garden began it’s development.  I selected fast growing plants and shrubs for a lush effect and divided my perennials for instant gratification.

           Finally, we implanted a donated arbor with a swinging gate to welcome all whom contributed to my inspiration.

           I don’t get the winter blues as badly now that Jim has converted some of my garden photos into wallpaper for my computer screen!
       

         For turning over a new leaf, I wrote this apologetic:
       
      *ODE TO MY WEEDS
      White Clover - appears as a dusting of spring snow.
      Dandelions - are cultivable and healthy you know.
      Bittersweet - vines form great wreaths in Fall.
      Crabgrass - keeps you busy, that is all.
       
       
      Poetry Copyright © 1998 by Tina Dempsey  All Rights Reserved
       
       
      "So how did you like it?  Can you stick around for more?  Well... Cufflink
      came back and is heading over to view the FIELDS OF SONG
      in Scene 2.  Tag along now if your going. You wouldn't
      want to miss it. . .would you?"
       
      To FIELDS OF SONG.
       

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