Weekend Warriors

Posted on March 29, 2009 by fairegarden

march-28-2009-semi-030-3We, meaning The Financier and I, were called to duty this weekend.march-28-2009-semi-031-3There was a mini marathon to be run, thirteen miles up and down the hilly streets of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee at seven of the clock on Sunday morning.march-28-2009-semi-021-3Mr. Semi, a high school baseball coach, was at an out of town pre season tournament with his team. There was a need for some adult supervision for the smallest member of the Fairegarden clan while Semi does her running.march-28-2009-semi-004-31This is a wild and wacky place.march-28-2009-semi-011-3Being away from my garden during this exciting time of year is a little less painful when there is a small patch that is my very own garden away from home. This silly piece of soil with concrete all around makes no sense, why didn’t the builders pave the whole thing? It has been planted with Angelina sedum, chocolate chip ajuga, nigella and grape hyacinths. These plants have filled in completely, most are evergreen and it is the one area that I can freely weed and control at Semi’s place. It all boils down to control for some of us, doesn’t it?march-28-2009-semi-014-3There are bulbs blooming all over at Semi’s, many names are not known, but this is Geranium. The pollen jocks don’t care about names, or trumpet size it appears.march-28-2009-semi-025-3Semi has ordered some nice varieties over the years.march-28-2009-semi-020-3Like Christopher’s Bulbarella, Semi is more concerned with pretty than identification. march-28-2009-semi-018-3She has pretty down pat.march-28-2009-semi-006-3She has a method of gardening that is simple, dig a hole and stick the plant in the ground.march-28-2009-semi-036-3Because she has better things to do than fuss with weeds and such, like fill a bucket with water from squirt bottles.march-28-2009-semi-042-3We hope this threatening sky clears for a long run in the early morning.
Frances
~~~
Added: Semi is back home after her race. She ran the thirteen miles in two hours, a good pace. She is showered and ready to take it easy for the rest of the day. We have enjoyed our time as the weekend warriors.
F

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34 Responses to Weekend Warriors

  1. Darla says:
    March 29, 2009 at 7:27 am

    It might be wild and wacky, but it has that refreashing feel to it as well! I think they are adorable!!

    Hi Darla, thanks so much. It is a wild ride when we come up here but we love them so. However it is nice to go home and relax to our own boring and quiet spot. 🙂
    Frances

  2. Chandramouli.S says:
    March 29, 2009 at 7:56 am

    That’s a beautiful garden and you’re one great blogger to portray its beauty better!
    Have a great day!

    Hi Chandramouli, thanks so much, that is such a sweet thing to say. My daughter and I share a love of gardening to our core, even if we have different methods. The flowers here grow so well, with little human interference. Much could be written about that. Are there stories in your culture about such a method?
    Frances

  3. Cameron (Defining Your Home Garden) says:
    March 29, 2009 at 8:05 am

    Frances — hope your marathon went well this morning. Your grandson is so cute! What fun!

    Cameron

    Hi Cameron, she is running as this is written. The weather is cool and it is not raining. The baby is still asleep, so it is quite here. The Financier is reading the paper and I am, well you can guess what I am doing. 🙂
    Frances

  4. Janet says:
    March 29, 2009 at 8:11 am

    Beautiful shots this morning Frances. Sounds like a nice day. I hope the weather holds.

    Hi Janet, thanks. The big cold front is supposed to move through here tonight giving us possible freezes. So much is in bloom and bud, my seedlings are in the coldframe with the shower door lid over it. Hope it stays well above freezing. The weather for the running seems perfect at the moment. She is probably half way through the course now.
    Frances

  5. Joy says:
    March 29, 2009 at 8:17 am

    What a cutie pie little man he is ! reminds me of when number one son was his age .. you never stop seeing them that way do you ? .. I am in awe of that sky picture Frances .. that is beautiful !! not that the garden isn’t … but the sky .. well it is stunning !
    I got a lot of work done yesterday myself .. we had stellar weather finally !

    Hi Joy, thanks. My two grown sons will always be thought of as that size, so sweet and cuddly. I know how you love the sky, Joy. I do too, but find it hard to tear the lens away from the gardens. I do hope you didn’t over do it at your place. Pace yourself! 🙂
    Frances

  6. Daphne Gould says:
    March 29, 2009 at 8:22 am

    Pollen jocks, so funny. Only crocus are up around my area. The poor bees don’t have much yet to eat. I did see a dandelion though. My hellebore hasn’t even bloomed yet, but soon. I think it has been in bud for a month now.

    Hi Daphne, thanks. That term, pollen jocks is from the Bee Movie, a favorite of the small fry. Wow to the dandelions at your place, they just started here too. Our zones are more similar than first thought. 🙂 May your hellebore bloom soon.

    Frances

  7. Blossom says:
    March 29, 2009 at 8:24 am

    Semi sounds pretty much like me … er, sometimes. Hope you have a nice marathon.

    Hi Blossom, you have my sympathies, oops, I meant to say thanks for visiting. The marathon does not involve me. I get exercise in the garden, not from running. Semi is addicted to running in my opinion. She runs at her work during lunch hour every day, five miles. If she misses it for weather reasons, like hard driving rain, she runs in regular old rain, she is bummed out. Good for her, I suppose, but not my thing.
    Frances

  8. Phillip (UK) says:
    March 29, 2009 at 8:24 am

    What great pictures and I love the term ‘pollen jocks’ – must remember that.

    Hi Phillip, thanks. I cannot claim the that term for bees, it is from the Bee Movie, but it is so appropriate. 🙂
    Frances

  9. Lisa at Greenbow says:
    March 29, 2009 at 8:27 am

    You are lucky to have two gardens to enjoy. Semi’s garden has wonderful color and form. If the pollen jocks like it I like it. 😉 Good luck on the run…

    Hi Lisa, thanks. The run went well, she finished thirteen miles in two hours, a good pace. I am lucky to be able to see two gardens, and if the weather cooperates will be working side by side to tidy up a bit at hers in the coming weeks.
    Frances

  10. Christopher C NC says:
    March 29, 2009 at 9:10 am

    Good morning Frances. It should be a nice cool day for the marathon. Then maybe some snow for me.

    You sure have plenty of daffodils in your own garden. Have you counted them? I think Bulbarella needs to try the big hyacinth again. At Client #1’s they come back fine. Do the hyacinth shrink and disappear on you?

    When it comes to the name knowing, need for tidiness in the garden I think I am a blend between the Semi/Bulbarella, “Oh it’s pretty” and the super organized Frances.

    Hi Christopher, thanks. I have not tried to count the daffs since I am still dividing and spreading them. The count would not be a static thing. I agree about the hyacinths. The flowers are more loosely placed on the stalks, but I prefer that look. They have not disappeared. Being a blend of super organized and random is the best way to be I think. Maybe Bulbarella could try a few as an experiment. The blues have been really good at returning, Gypsy Queen is just weak and poor.
    Frances

  11. Monica says:
    March 29, 2009 at 10:12 am

    Your daughter is very smart to give you your own little garden at her house. She knows how to keep you out of trouble! 😉 How old is your adorable grandson, by the way? He looks like a happy, well-grounded kid. Good for Semi for raising him that way!

    Hi Monica, you hit the nail with Semi’s method. She does know how to keep me happy and off her back. The little grand is three and one half years old. He is a happy fun loving guy who tells us all exactly what to do and how to do it. Can’t imagine where that trait comes from. 🙂
    Frances

  12. Gail says:
    March 29, 2009 at 10:22 am

    Dear Frances, Good morning! How was the coffee this morning? I am heading to my second cup, compiling tax info and trying to blog! I love the Semi-Garden school of design..it works for her and their life. Her flowers always look wonderful…Eventually she will have a full cottage garden! Goodness, Little L is getting bigger, even tho, he is quite the big boy, he is still adorable! Wonderful photos…the sky is as ominous as the weather was last night! Out one window it was sunny, the other black clouds were forming and over the Garden of Benign Love…a rainbow! Have a sweet day…Is it getting cold tonight or what! gail

    Hi Gail,t hanks and good morning to you. It is pretty windy and cold here today. Her garden is looking better all the time. As it fills up with plants, it shades the weeds and all sorts itself out. Little L is so big and grown up in many ways. He is lots of fun to play games with, his own inventions of course, by his rules. Lot of interaction and laughter. How nice for a rainbow for you too. Very cold tonight for us too.
    Frances

  13. ourfriendben says:
    March 29, 2009 at 10:25 am

    Hi Frances! Thanks for the wonderful photos. Your grandson is the sweetest thing this side of sticky buns! And I can see that Semi got her gardening gene from you, if not that scary running gene (walking works too, you know!). Like everyone, I love “pollen jocks.” Looking forward to seeing some up here soon!

    Hi OFB, thanks for that. I don’t know where that running thing comes from, but it is her form of stress relief and seems to work. Not to mention keeping her trim and fit. The cute little bees are everywhere with all the blooms she has. Funny how gardens full of flowers are also full of bees and other good guys. But we did see some cabbage whites last week, they are not welcome in the veggie garden.
    Frances

  14. Brenda Kula says:
    March 29, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    What vibrant photos! That last one was the punctuation at the end of the sentence. Perhaps they left that space in the concrete, somehow knowing “someone” needed that bit of earth.
    Brenda

    Hi Brenda, thanks so much. I was trying to figure out how to work the sky photo in and just couldn’t so stuck it at the end. Dark clouds like that always make my heart swell for the love of my homestate of Oklahoma. I know they can bring terrible destruction, but storms make my blood race. I like your take on the little patch of earth too, it called my name and Semi didn’t mind. 🙂
    Frances

  15. Siria says:
    March 29, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    Hi Frances! I know you must be having a wonderful time with Semi and Little L! Special weekends, special memories…
    Semi’s garden looks beautiful and inviting. She is lucky to have you to share it with. I’ve never been to Knoxville before but am headed that way this coming week. My daughter is in a diving competition at UT. Hope the weather warms up by the end of the week…I was hoping to go see the University of Tennessee Gardens which you blogged about some time ago.

    Hi Siria, thanks, it always takes a while to recover from the little one’s high energy level, but worth every minute. Semi and I are both lucky that we are close enough to see her so often. I do hope the weather cooperates for your UT visit. If you have time, I would love for you to come down to Fairegarden too. I will contact you about that.
    Frances

  16. marmee says:
    March 29, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    frances,
    how thoughtful to help semi out so she could run. that is a funny little patch of green but at least it is well filled out. i have a feeling when semi has more time on her hands she will follow in her mother’s footsteps in wanting to know more details about the garden. i remember digging a butterfly garden at midnight in florida because with six kids when else are you suppposed to be able to dig. my neighbours proably thought oh there goes that crazy mother again.
    have a happy cool spring sunday.

    Hi Marmee, thanks so much for that. Semi is in a time crunch, it is so true. Working at a somewhat stressful job and trying to spend as much time with her son and husband as possible leave little hard core garden tending. But her garden still thrives with the neglect. I cannot imagine six kids, four just about wore me out! I remember trying to garden while they were on the swingset, looking down at the ground and at them at the same time. Life is certainly more leisurely now.
    Frances

  17. Racquel says:
    March 29, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    Keeping up with your grandson probably does require some warrior strength! 😉 Little boys are busy at best from my experience. lol Semi’s theory for gardening seems to be working out beautifully, look at all those happy blooms!

    Hi Racquel, thanks for the empathy! The high energy is fun but does make us a little tired. Both The Financier and I had to take a little nap when we got back home. Semi does find the time to plant bulbs in the fall, it is one of the easiest ways to have spring blooms all over the place.
    Frances

  18. Catherine says:
    March 29, 2009 at 2:44 pm

    She has lots of pretty flowers! I love the bee photo. I’m glad you had fun with your family.

    Hi Catherine, thanks. There were many blooms to shoot and the sun came out at just the right moment. We loved being with the family and the flowers.
    Frances

  19. tina says:
    March 29, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    Congrats to Semi! And so glad you can do a bit of gardening while spending time there.

    Hi Tina, thanks. This visit the only gardening we did was to look at it! HA A work day is planned for next week’s visit. It keeps raining every single time we go up there. The flowers love the rain though.
    Frances

  20. Mr. McGregor's Daughter says:
    March 29, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    Semi does have lots of pretties. It’s great that you & The Financier are close enough to be able to do babysitting duty on a Sunday morning. It looks a lot nicer there than it does here today.

    Hi MMD, she does have many lovely things, sometimes her garden is just slightly ahead of mine too. She is just far enough away that we have to spend the night many times to babysit, but don’t mind. I should say it looks more like spring there, I do not envy you that snow at this time of year, or any time of year actually. Heart attack snow? No thank you.
    Frances

  21. Jill in Atlanta says:
    March 29, 2009 at 4:20 pm

    That last photograph with the branch and sky is amazing! Do you frame any of your favorites?

    Hi Jill, thanks so much. I have not framed any photos, but do have files of favorites for making some kind of book for the family someday.
    Frances

  22. Semi says:
    March 29, 2009 at 4:21 pm

    Thank you for watching lu! We r lucky 2 have u guys. Hopefully we have more blooms 2 come and maybe more eggs in the new nest next week if the weather permits gardening can be done although sprayin buckets with lu is so much fun!!!! love u semi

    Hello dear Semi, it was our pleasure. You know how much we enjoy spending time with our little guy, he is so entertaining, but we both had naps after getting home. Hope you did too. We will try and get some work done next week, I will bring my pruners. 🙂
    Much love, Frances

  23. eliz says:
    March 29, 2009 at 4:54 pm

    Those are some amazing daffs; looks like you have passed along some great gardening genes.

    Hi Elizabeth, thanks so much. She likes to order the fancier daffs, like the split cups. I don’t have any of those, but they sure are pretty. We do share an obsession for gardening, but I have so much more time available to delve into the soil. Someday she will too. A good thing about gardening is that any age can participate in some way.
    Frances

  24. Rose says:
    March 29, 2009 at 6:59 pm

    Semi does indeed have”pretty” down pat! I’ve always liked her style of gardening:) I hope the skies, though beautiful, cleared for her and that she had a great race. In two weeks I will be doing some marathoning myself–watching the grandkids while their parents run, that is:)

    Just noticed the first photo in your sidebar, Frances. Is that your garden in bloom?? I thought it was a Monet painting at first glance!

    Hi Rose, thanks. She did have a good race, although it was cold. Your marathon sounds very similar to mine. One child wears both my husband and me out. But we love doing it. The photo on the sidebar is my garden last April. I like to change with the seasons but don’t know if a photo from this year will come out quite that good. The lighting was just right for once. Enjoy Arizona! 🙂
    Frances

  25. ryan says:
    March 29, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    I like the little patch, you made it look good, and it’s actually a good environmental thing in that it infiltrates the water from that roof downspout. We have a lot of problems in the San Francisco Bay from people paving all their land and then dumping all their runoff into the stormwater systems, causing sewage and sediment to end up in the bay.

    Hi Ryan, thanks. You are so right about the downspout filtration, maybe that is why it looks so good right now, we have had lots of rain. During the droughty summers, it still looks pretty good. That is an advertisement for the sedum and ajuga. I loved and want your granite table. 🙂
    Frances

  26. TC says:
    March 29, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    “…dig a hole and stick the plant in the ground.”

    Felder Rushing says just “plant it green side up.”

    Two ways of sayin the same thing: Keep it simple.

    Hi TC, thanks for that comparison. I read that article in the NYT, loved it, and can imagine his garden and home vividly. He and Semi belong to the same school of thought.
    Frances

  27. Lythrum says:
    March 29, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    I’m glad that you had a good visit. I know that we got doused with rain. I’m glad that she got to run her race. 🙂

    Hi Lythrum, thanks. We have had lots of rain lately, especially on the weekends. She ran with a light mist and cold temps. I wanted to bundle her up with a blanket.
    Frances

  28. layanee says:
    March 29, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    For a moment I thought you and the Financier were running in a road race. I was thinking how…athletic and brave! What fun to spend time with your little grandson. I will wait patiently to play in the garden with my new little granddaughter.

    Hi Layanee, wow, not that athletic and not that brave, even on our best day! The grands are what makes growing older worth it. Your little granddaughter will fill your life with pleasure, if she hasn’t already. 🙂
    Frances

  29. Kathleen says:
    March 29, 2009 at 11:34 pm

    That’s quite a feat, running a marathon! My hat is off to your daughter. She definitely has “pretty” down to an art form. What is that gorgeous purple flower?? You did a good job fitting in some photography while on duty. Oh, I never did get to comment on your previous beautiful bulbs post. It made me sigh as we were in the middle of a blizzard when I looked at all your blooms. You’ve really created an incredible garden Frances. I’ve never seen it in bad or boring form.

    Hi Kathleen, thanks. Semi runs five miles at lunchtime at her work. There is a track close by and many of her co workers run there. A good stress reliever she says. The purple flower is an Anemone De Caen, the kind that is a crazy looking tuber thing that we plant in the fall here. I was lucky the sun came out briefly for some photos. So sorry about your snow storm too, hope you have fun inside the warm greenhouse today. 🙂
    Frances

  30. kerri says:
    March 29, 2009 at 11:46 pm

    I can’t imagine running 13 miles in 2 hours…and any time for that matter! Good for Semi. She did well.
    The little tyke must be loads of fun and blessings, but they keep you on your toes, don’t they? It’s always good to have that well earned rest afterward 🙂
    Love that sedum. I must get some of the Angelina.

    Hi Kerri, thanks. Running is not something I do at all anymore either. It is hard to keep up with the little guy’s energy level, thank goodness for naps, for us both! Angelina is doing much better in Semi’s garden than in mine for some reason. It might be her extensive mushroom compost mulch.
    Frances

  31. Tessa at Blunders with shoots, blossoms 'n roots says:
    March 30, 2009 at 1:07 am

    Looks like the cuteness was having a great time with the spray bottles- it’s a good thing to be so easily entertained! Beautiful flowers- I thought I saw an anemone? That shrub looks kinda like the one over at Jan’s at Thanks for 2day, but I don’t think the leaf is quite right.

    Hi Tessa, thanks. Yes, that was an anemone. I have to go back and check about the shrub, but Semi doesn’t have a Kerria. Oh, I think you are talking about the Carolina Jessamine vine, the yellow bell shaped flowers? I should have identified that. It is very fragrant and on her deck railing in back.
    Frances

  32. Pam/Digging says:
    March 30, 2009 at 2:40 am

    Yes, if Semi is running races and raising a family, I can see how she doesn’t have time to fuss over the garden. No matter. I like her fuss-free planting method, and it seems to be paying off marvelously for her.

    Hi Pam, thanks. She is so busy, I wish I could help more but live just far enough away that it is not possible. Fuss free is a good way to describe her garden. 🙂
    Frances

  33. flowergardengirl says:
    March 30, 2009 at 3:03 am

    You are precious and I can’t wait to be a grandma. I like your control statement. How come I related to that? Don’t answer, I know why. It’s hard to give up being the mom and knowing all–helping do all isn’t it?

    Hi Anna, thanks for that, you are precious yourself!! You will be a splendid and well loved Grandma. It is the best. It is hard to give up being the mom, sometimes when the kids are all at my house, I fall back into that role, and they all just laugh, in a loving but non obeying way of course. 😉
    Frances

  34. Rob (ourfrenchgarden) says:
    March 30, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    I glad the rain stayed away.

    I can do 13 miles in two hours…..on my bicycle

    I’m loving your pics.

    Rob

    HA Rob, thanks. Even the bicycle would be impossible for me. She is quite the girl. Determination makes up for any lack of physical size, or long legs, in Semi’s case.
    Frances

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