Time to set out vegetable plants

Mary Quite Contrary and her better half have been gardening this week. The country born mouse and her spouse set tomato, pepper and sage plants and sowed a few seeds behind our city house.
Sorry to say the peonies lost their beautiful rain soaked blooms last night.
Soon there will be blossoms and blooms of varied colors to delight and feed the birds and the bees.
Hummingbirds have found the nectar and the mourning doves and other songbirds entertained us while we work!
The yellow lilac start that Paul planted inside a pumpkin shell late last Fall is already reaching for the sun. An old buck squirrel dug up some nuts buried next to the plant. No damage to the plant could be found.
Someday when we are gone the shrub will blossom and bloom, profusely adding more beauty to the landscape.
Our young smoke tree, the only one on the place was damaged by frost a few weeks ago. At this point in time the tree is fully filled out and adding beauty to the front yard. We saved plants to winter over in the south window of our garage and they look great in the urns. I am looking for the elephant ear bulbs to arrive in the mail.
I hear baby birds in the dense boughs of the evergreens. I dare not disturb them while the mother is out and about hunting their dinner.
Geese and ducks wing in and stop by landing long enough to grab some grass from the yard and grain from the fully loaded hoppers next door. I talk to them and they listen and move on, only to return the next day to hear the rant again.
When I see the water fowl I think about me, a child helping my family prepare the same of the domestic kind, geese and ducks for the holidays I knew full-well when the dressed and packaged poultry were ready for the home delivery job around Stringtown and thereabouts would be handed to me.
My mother knew I loved to visit our neighbors and did not mind the simple chore.
I see my old friends alive and well, kind hard working folks that lived there, although, almost all have been gone many years since. I see them open their doors, with a generous smile and with out-stretched hand they welcomed me into their homes to set a spell. Unforgettable smiles that always made my day and linger on today. We were like family. One woman, an immigrant from France could not speak English, Another lady from a fine family was blind since birth, but Rose knew my voice and that made me feel good. Mary Patton taught me how to make apple pie. Fact is, I gained a wealth of cooking tips from the grand cooks of Stringtown. They knew how to feed their families well and share with me.
Ours was a melting pot of good people living in harmony, all children of God. More good apples fell from their trees than bad.
I feel wealthy and good inside claiming those early formed friendships as well as life lessons learned early on. Today some of the decedents of those good folks I visit on Facebook links to my golden chain of friendships, so important to me.
I have neither poultry to deliver nor those people to see.
Think about what this troubled world would be like if everyone could plant good thoughts in their garden. Rid ourselves of hated and turmoil, shame and blame. Cast aside the bad seeds that won’t let the flowers grow.
When I die I hope gospel singer Sherri Easter’s song is playing at my service. “She Loved” yes indeed!
Reach me by phone at 317-286-7352 or drop me a line to 649 South Grant Street, Brownsburg, IN, 46112.