This is not a good year...and it just started...

4 years ago

Cuttings of salvia -- SALVIA! -- are a mess this year, first time I've ever had trouble with those, elephant ear bulbs aren't sprouting, vinca seeds aren't germinating. It's a sucky annuals propagation year. Bah! All made worse by the fact my long-time gardening buddy for whom I've been growing seeds for something like 25 years is doing very poorly health-wise and our tradition of the annual May nursery crawl and all the other gardening stuff we've done together is....over. So I'm just not in the mood anyway.

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docmom_gw

4 years ago

This spring has been very cold and wet for us here in Michigan, hasn’t it?. Hardly fair, since our growing season is already short enough, right?

I’m so sorry about your friend. I have been a hospice physician for 12 years, so am very familiar with the grief that comes with the loss of activities that one has shared with loved ones over the years. Could your friend enjoy a virtual nursery crawl and a decorative pot of spring bulbs? You could use Facetime to carry your friend along for the tour. Of course, it isn’t the same as the real deal, but it might cheer you both, if your friend is in a condition to appreciate the gesture. If we could make things better, you know we would.

Martha

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Comments (10)

peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
4 years ago
Awww mxk I am so sorry your season is starting badly. The cuttings & seeds are bad enough but losing your crawl buddy really hurts. I feel for you.
porkchop_z5b_MI thanked peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
violetsnapdragon
4 years ago
Sounds like a pretty crappy day for you. Maybe consider going out and buying yourself the first cool, new annual plant you see. Sometimes $4,50 spent brightens my day considerably. My best to you and your friend.
porkchop_z5b_MI thanked violetsnapdragon
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porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author
4 years ago
"Could your friend enjoy a virtual nursery crawl and a decorative pot of spring bulbs? You could use Facetime to carry your friend along for the tour."

No, it's bad...only a matter of time...
katob Z6ish, NE Pa
4 years ago
Sorry to hear. There's nothing wrong with shelving a few plans for the year and refocussing on just a few things which mean the most to you. Good luck. The garden will be there waiting until you're ready.
porkchop_z5b_MI thanked katob Z6ish, NE Pa
diggerdee zone 6 CT
4 years ago
I'm so sorry mxk. Thinking of you and your friend. <3

Dee
porkchop_z5b_MI thanked diggerdee zone 6 CT
porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author
4 years ago
I'm sad and having difficulty finding enjoyment in things lately, but I understand death is a part of life and is coming for all of us eventually, and the feelings will pass in time. At least I'm managing to keep up with garden chores and getting things ready for the season, it's not all going to pot...not yet anyway.

Elephant ears sometimes give me trouble, but I can't figure out the salvia and vinca, though -- both super easy to propagate. The only thing I can figure out is I'm kind of half-*ssing it this year because of all that's going on, maybe I didn't take the usual care in technique. Oh well. As long as I get a few salvias that take I'll make do with that -- there's always next year. I will be upset if at least one doesn't take, though -- I need a mother plant -- this cultivar is almost impossible to find anymore. The vinca and elephant ears are easy to find at nurseries -- but EE have gotten $$, which is why I try to start from the bulbs (but then again I wasted $20 in bulbs that rotted, so maybe I should just scrap this from my spring propagation list -- it isn't the first time it's happened).
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years ago
My heart goes out to you, mxk. For the garden, there is always next year, but losing a good garden buddy is really rough.
porkchop_z5b_MI thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan
4 years ago
I’m so sorry to hear about your dear friend. Though an eventual part of life, losing loved ones is never easy. Perhaps there is a special plant your friend loves that you can plant in your garden as a reminder of your friendship? Sending hugs.
porkchop_z5b_MI thanked lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan
gawdinfever Z6
4 years ago
I am so very sorry to hear of troubles and heartbreak, mxk. Virtual hugs and real prayers for you.
porkchop_z5b_MI thanked gawdinfever Z6