October 4, 2023

Dear Friends,

At the beginning of summer, before we knew it would be a record-breaking people roaster, I did something that I thought would help pretty up the place on your way into our building.  Got two big pots and two wide plastic dish pots and filled them all with garden soil.  In each of the two dishes, I planted four Portulacas, otherwise known as  Moss-rose purslane.  

Did my best to keep them watered properly, and for most of the summer they did well.  It didn’t help that a chicken got into the dish and kicked a bunch of dirt and some of the plants out, but the plants recovered and looked pretty good most of the time.  They filled the pot and were real beauties.

On-line, I ordered six baby Lantana.  The were only an inch tall when they arrived, and before they died of heat stroke, reached about 2 inches and added two double leaves each.  I had high hopes for them, knowing lantana are actually pretty hearty.  Wasn’t sure how to water the babies, but kept the soil at least a little moist all the time.  Didn’t help.

In each of the two bigger pots, I planted four pink petunias.  I’m not normally a pink-loving person, but for petunias, I love that color.  Had I found some dusty millers at Walmart to put in with them, that is a gorgeous combination.  Placed a pot on either side of our front door.  Got done planting, and that was their best and prettiest day.

Watering frequently without drowning them, talking nicely to them, keeping them in partial shade/partial sun should have ensured their continued beauty throughout the summer.  Instead, they slowly deteriorated all summer long until they flat died.

I’ve concluded there is nothing in this world uglier than a dead petunia.  Brittle and shriveled brown leaves and tough brown stems.  Pot looks better with the petunias pulled out and plain bare dirt showing, even if it gathers a weed or two.

Next thing will be pansies.  They should last throughout the fall and winter, and into the beginning of next summer.  Fellow at Huffman’s, where I rent U-Haul trucks to take to quilt shows, told me two weeks ago they should be coming into his store about now.  I’ll give him a call or run by there to see if they’re available yet.

I’ve never been especially fond of pansies.  The better colors are always two-toned, and I would prefer them to be a more solid color and not have faces.  Some years back, when I was going to college, I was on the gardening crew, and had my own area to tend.  Had to plant lots of pansies about this same time of year or a bit later.  They are a cool weather plant.  I still don’t particularly like the things, although I can’t complain too loudly.  After all, some of my best friends are pansies.  And I do believe they will do a good job of brightening up the entrance to our shop.  We’ll give it a try.

No specific call to action this time.  Just be sure to come to our shop for your quilting supplies and fabric, or to purchase a new machine (we’ll give you more support with it than anybody), and consider us your education center for learning about longarm quilting, sewing, serging, embroidery, and like that!

Chip