In The Garden

"Of all the wonderful things in the wonderful universe of God, nothing seems to me more surprising than the planting of a seed on the blank earth and the result thereof."
---Celia Thaxter---

This morning, was a magical kind of morning in the garden. Today the pressures of life seemed far away and being out in the garden is a wonderful place of joy.

I find myself being drawn in and the peace that I find in a garden always surprises me and catches me off guard.

I have such a white fly problem, that I decided it was war.  I think the most amazing product I have ever used is Dawn dish washing detergent. I was skeptical  that the soap suds would work, because I always used Ivory. Being over a barrel, and wanting pumpkins and the white flies are just destroying my blooms I had read to use Dawn. Yesterday I fixed up my first batch. I dutifully sprayed behind each and every leaf and then the poor blooms. I didn't expect much. Last evening, as I walked around, those white flies were dead. My plants even looked a little bit happier. One of the things I read was you have to keep doing it to kill the life cycle of the white fly. I fixed up another batch this morning and sprayed them again.

When we planted all of the boxes of flowers for Em's wedding, we planted petunias and nasturtiums. After the wedding we just moved the boxes out by my garden and I water them every morning. I was reading yesterday and it seems squash beetles do not like petunias and nasturtiums. I knew about marigolds but not them. I hope they work to keep those squash beetles at bay. I haven't used pesticide yet on my garden so I keep looking for other ways to battle pests. I think as in health the best way with people and plants is to keep the plant healthy so it can fight disease.

"For to have complete satisfaction from flowers you must have time to spend with them.
There must be rapport. I talk to them and they talk to me." 
 ---Princess Grace of Monaco---

This year I love the size of my garden. I find myself already planning a garden next year. That is a total first for me. I find myself wanting to make the garden of my dreams and to make a living patchwork quilt of design. You have no idea how hard it is for me to stay small and manageable.  My husband calls me " to the brim Kim." My sister says, " Why do you always have to push the envelope."  I don't know except I am really trying to curb that and enjoy manageable. I think as  it is though, I have always liked" if a little is good, more is better. " 

Have a great Tuesday. Off to fill my day to the brim.

~Kim~