The Year of the Vortex and the Monsoon Spring is all but over. The Acres seemed somewhat unaffected although the iris did not have a good year at all, and a beautiful redbud did not comeback. The Lenten Roses lost their leaves, still bloomed wonderfully, and are now in full leaf again. A few of the flowering trees and shrubs did not bloom as profusely as "normal," but still added some beauty to the treks. The Monsoon did make for a weedy year in the beds, but the flowers didn't seem to mind the competition.
The Four Landmarks seem oblivious to it all. The Sentinel stands guard serenely. The ancient red maple hid the cave from the passerby out on the road all spring and summer, majestically domed the turn in the driveway, and gloriously turned the autumn red. The bog-swamp excelled. Yellow flag and blue flag and Louisiana iris bloomed wherever they were planted, spread even, and colorized the environs. Who knew a swamp could be so beautiful? And its sister the pond is now an aquarium. Perhaps I should call this The Year of the Goldfish? And, of course, the last Landmark, the wild area--was as lovely as ever--if not more so. No doubt in its history there have been many a cold winter and many a flooded spring. It just goes on blooming. In fact, there was a delightful increase in spiderwort and monarda. Don't you just hate it when there's more and more bluish purple flowers in your life? Me, too. And "cosmetically" I believe I have found a pathitis that I love, and I have no inner voice urging me to change the layout. I believe I am cured.
Other random highlights?
The first iris in Mom's bed bloomed--a dwarf yellow blue. And the bed itself is doing wondrously.
A couple more pussy willows have taken root in wet areas, and a weeping willow somehow got started in the middle of the bog. Needless to say, it loves wet feet. Either I didn't notice it last year or it grew ten feet this year. Both are possibilities.
Peaches for the first time. Pears by the zillions. Blueberries. Blackberries, Apples. "Treats" for my walks on The Acres.
New bed experiments. Well, they will be a highlight if they do well. Iris pot bunkers! If they excel and turn May, June, and October into Iris Heaven, I may turn the entire Acres into a pot bunker.
Disaster was avoided when the tree fell on the side of the house. Three of the walnut trees are now gone because of it. The "forest" behind the house will now have a great deal more sunlight. That should create some interesting surprises in 2015. Disaster turned into triumph. Fascinating how that all works out. Hey, in fact, it was the guy cutting down the walnuts that alerted me to the goldfish "infestation."
Yep, all in all, the Lord blessed me with another beautiful year at The Acres. Now, I must fight the dreaded Anticipation Disease until spring rolls around. Well, the pussy willow by the pond, as I love to remind you every chance I get, is already budding. (If you have a pond, plant some pussy willows!) The daffodils are surreptitiously spreading under the frozen sod. The new Arbor Day striplings that I planted are waiting to come alive in the spring a promise of the future beginning anew at The Acres--members of the "we'll be blooming long after the old man's gone" club.
All in all, I can only thank the Lord for another year of beauty on The Acres.
Thank You Father. Can't wait to see the surprises my Gardening Angels have in store for 2015!
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