All week, I’ve been afflicted with Garden Visit Anxiety Disorder, otherwise known as GVAD. Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Hives, and I don’t mean the ones filled with honeybees.
- Wild hair caused by fists pulling it in dismay.
- Furious weeding, watering and feeding.
- No response to family members encouraging the sufferer to come in out of the heat.
- Stumbling around the paths muttering “Oh no!”
- Traveling to garden centers to purchase fresh plants. Garden fluffing then ensues.
One cause for GVAD is a visit by Someone of Garden Importance. A SOGI (pronounced so-jee) is a lot like a VIP, but better. When a SOGI visits, the gardener knows she’ll get more than “Oh, that’s pretty,” as said by the normal visitor or family member roped into looking at the garden yet again.
Only a SOGI knows that after fifteen minutes of wading under overgrown climbing roses, you’re only getting started. Only a SOGI sees all of your daylilies and kindly comments, “You are a collector. That’s plain to see.”
On Thursday, a double SOGI event occurred. Pam from Digging and her sweet mother, June (don’t you just love that name?) came over. Pam and I met in person when I attended the Spring Fling in Austin, but I was a fan of her blog long before. When she asked to visit while seeing her mom in Tulsa, I could hardly say no, although August in Oklahoma is not the best time for a tour. All week I’ve worried about what she’d think, but once she pulled into the driveway, most of my fears were relieved. It was as if an old friend stopped by, but this friend understood the obsession, ‘er passion I devote to the craft.
Pam brought me a ‘Best of Friends’ daylily, and I gave she and her mom some of my pink garden phlox. We walked around and dripped in the heat. Pam’s mom also understands the insanity, I mean, love for plants. We talked for two hours about gardens, blogging, writing, landscaping and garden coaching.
Pam and I discussed agaves, including which ones might work in my USDA Zone 7a climate. I want a ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (Agave ovatifolia ), but I’m not sure it will survive our winters. Pam suggested planting it in a container and then placing the pot in a protected area. I could also move it to the basement for its winter stay.
Pam and her mother liked the variegated tapioca and the garden phlox. Pam said she was surprised how much was still blooming although it was August. It looked pretty bad to me, but then I’ve seen it in June.
After the tour, we came inside and drank homemade lemonade (recipe to be later posted.) I finally looked at my watch and realized we’d missed lunch. I suggested a local eatery with hamburgers and hand breaded onion rings. After lunch, we parted, and they went on to shop in downtown Guthrie. I hope they found some great antiques.
Note that GVAD is related to GADS and has some of the same syptoms. If you find a gardener wandering around his or her plot pulling our perfectly good hair, for goodness sakes, get in there and help weed. You never know when a SOGI might visit you.
Late to the (comment) party, but I recently had a SOGI in the form of Kathy Purdy of the Cold Climate Gardening blog, accompanied by her very wry husband (who would probably say he is not wry). I thought we all did really well…but the worst part for me was that in the run-up to the day I had totally forgotten to pot things up to share. I just never dig anything in these parts in August…too dry…but of course Kathy, who is far more organized, arrived with gifts galore, each one more prime than the next. I hope the various creatures I wrenched out of the ground with her looking all make it. At least I had cooked a proper lunch, huh? Can I get credit for that? Please?
I would probably faint if a sogi came to my garden. Ha… I can tell by the pictures your garden was up to the visit and
everyone had a good time.
I so understand how you suffered from GVAD. A few years ago I started a garden club and each year they all come to look at my garden, all 22 of them. Gaaaaaaaaa!
OK I’ve calmed down now and am able to continue commenting: it was great fun to read about these 2 distinguished SOGI’s who came to visit you and your wonderful garden. BTW what do you mean by it looks much better in June? Is that even possible? 😉
Glad to read (I’ve visited Pam’s blog too) that you all enjoyed yourselves so much.
cheerio from a soggy Netherlands!
At least it was a SOGI who can appreciate the GVAD. I’ve had a visitors where like, “So, you have a Garden Blog? Really?
Wicked Gardeners last blog post..I’m Blaming Michael Phelps
Dee,
I would have been beside myself as well. I know what we have accomplished in just five months is positively nothing shot of amazing, but I’m constantly finding fault in our garden. I think everyone just puts so much of their hearts into their gardens when a special guest comes to visit us we want it to look it’s very best. I always seem to be saying, “If you could only have seen it two weeks ago.†🙂
Hi Randy, no matter what we do, we are never finished, and I think that’s the beauty of it. It’s why we never get bored. Thanks for stopping by.~~Dee
I like best how Greg said, SOGI would surely know the deal with gardens! What a good thing to get a visit from someone so far away. Now it is over, you can relax.
Hi Tina, that’s a very good point. I am relaxing right now as I write. 🙂 ~~Dee
Only a SOGI understand, though, when their gardening host says, “Oh, if only you had seen these ___ last week”, or “As you can see, these will be blooming like crazy next week” or whatever. Since they have that same future/past vision that we enjoy, they can completely appreciate what is/was/will be, and enjoy what pleasures the garden holds at that moment.
Always fun to hear of two bloggers taking their friendship to the Real World level!! And isn’t it always fun to trade plants!?!
Gregs last blog post..Clouds of Lightning
Hi Greg, you’re absolutely right. Only a SOGI would understand and be able to “see” the garden in its various seasons. Thanks for visiting.~~Dee
It’s a thrill to read about your meeting with Pam and her mom, Dee – may there be many more in future, and may one of those future visitors be me!
The acronym is cute but if read phonetically it may not work so well this year….far from being moist and ‘SOGI’ – all gardeners from Austin are parched.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Annie in Austins last blog post.."Texas in May" & "The Pond Song"
Hi Annie, I didn’t think about SOGI that way. That is too funny. Yes, I hope you got some of the rain we did this morning.~~Dee
How nice to have visiting blogging friends! -Although I perfectly understand your anxiety.
A very amusing post – I like the way you correct yourself regarding certain words….
/Katarina
Hi Katarina, thank you so much for coming by. Blogging friends are the best.~~Dee
What a fun visit you all must have had! I know what you mean about GVAD, though… I get it all the time when people (even just my family members) say things like, “Oh, I need to stop by and see your garden.” I think–and sometimes say–things like, “Oh, give me some notice first so I can clean up the place!” lol.
Blackswampgirl Kims last blog post..Work (Sort of)…
Hi Kim, it was pretty scary, but my sweet husband and son helped me get ready.~~Dee
What a pleasant surprise! I love her agaves, and desperately want one too! I just started googling them this morning trying to find the one like she has in her front yard. LOVE her front yard!
Brenda
Hi Brenda, thank you so much for coming by. Yes, I was lucky enough to see Pam’s garden in person, and it is marvelous. She’s a landscape designer, and it shows.~~Dee
Oh
My
Gosh
A garden writer in your garden? I would have a pre-visit fit. All we have been doing is watering plants and canning the produce. There is no more time in the days.
August in an Oklahoma garden is not its best moment but it sounds as though your visitors were most impressed with your talents, design and successes, to say nothing of your hospitality.
Martha/All the Dirt on Gardenings last blog post..Propagating Root Cuttings
Martha, one day I hope you’ll stop by and btw, you’re a garden writer too. August is terrible, but Pam is from Austin, which right now is worse.~~Dee
Even though I am in the “Dear friend, non-gardener variety”, I love reading your posts and marveling at all the appropriate comments from the “garden variety” friends. I might just learn something…
Hello, non-virtual, real-life best friend. I’m glad you stopped by. “Garden Variety.” LOL. I get it.~~Dee
How true, but worth it. Your tale of it is so funny.
Mother Natures last blog post..Goldfish
MN, I’m so glad you enjoyed it.~~Dee
How wonderful that you were able to visit with a blogging buddy & someone who shares your passion for gardening! It can be nerve wracking sometimes to show your garden off to someone who really appreciates the work that goes into making it look so beautiful.
PG, it was some kind of wonderful.~~Dee
Hey Dee,
This is Pam’s mom….Thank you so much for sharing your garden with us and sending us home with the lovely addition to our gardens! If your garden looked bad to you in August….I would love to see it in June! It was absolutely full of blooms and sweet smells and wonderful insects of every variety. Loved all the different looking dragonflies! And the lemonade was to die for! It was so nice visiting with you and if you ever get to Broken Arrow, I would love for you to stop and visit my little gardens. Thanks again! June
Hi June, I’m so glad you were both able to come and you didn’t mind tromping around in the heat. Today, of course, it’s overcast and a lovely 75 degrees outside. When I get to Broken Arrow, I will look you up. I’d love to see your garden.~~Dee
This is so funny Dee! I’m sure I’d be afflicted with GVAD if a SOGI ever visits our garden.
It’s so cool meeting other garden bloggers! How lucky you are to have made it to the Austin Spring Fling, and now to have Pam and her mom visit!
lindas last blog post..Blue(?) Bottlebrush Blooms
Hi Linda. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I can truly say that the Spring Fling was life changing for me. I hope you can come to another one.~~Dee
GVAD seems so unnecessary. As has been noted garden bloggers are the nicest people & so are other real gardeners. They are understanding of a gardens flaws & the gardener’s inability to get every weed. They understand, even appreciate, the imperfections. That said, I’d probably suffer from just as bad a case of GVAD if a SOGI ever visited Squirrelhaven. How great it must have been to see Pam again & meet her mom & be able to talk for so long. Wish I could have been there.
Mr. McGregor’s Daughters last blog post..Why I Hate American Topiary & the Abuse of Stella
I want to see Squirrelhaven someday, MMD. It was so fun to visit with Pam and her mother~~Dee
We must always remember that all real gardeners are the nicest people on earth, and Pam (and you and I think her mom) are real gardeners. I’d be sweating it too, though, literally and figuratively, if a SOGI came to visit my garden. But then I remember how gracious and nice and welcoming all those Austin garden bloggers were to invite us to see their gardens. It sounds like a wonderful time was had by all. I look forward to Pam’s post, too, as I’m sure it will include pictures of your garden!
Carol, May Dreams Gardenss last blog post..Embrace Never Finished For A Happier Life
Yes, the Austin bloggers were the best. I’m coming to visit your garden someday Carol.~~Dee
Isn’t it fun to have other garden bloggers visit?!? And yes, it is anxiety producing. But the fact is, garden bloggers are the nicest of people, so there really isn’t anything to worry about!
I wish I could have tagged along on the visit.
Robin
Gardening Examiner
Robin Wedewers last blog post..The world’s ugliest tomato
Robin, the ones I know sure are.~~Dee
How funny. We all want to put our best foot forward when someone comes to visit. For normal people this means cleaning the house. For gardeners it means a full blown melt down. It sounds like you had a great visit. BTW I am coming to Oklahoma next week. Your state is about to be invaded by monkeys.
debs last blog post..Apparently, Pumpkin Growing is Sort of Complicated
Hey, Debi, are you coming to visit me too? Woo-hoo. I’d love to meet your monkeys.~~Dee
It appears that a wonderful visit was had by all…as you found out a gardener understands gardens and all that that entails (weather, weeds and all) and can appreciate the moment for what it is and see the good things, not the anxiety causing momentary things. I’m so glad you had a fun time! I suppose we all envy that Whale’s Tongue!
Leslies last blog post..Arboretum Beats Out Gym
I guess we can’t help but want the agave, can we?~~Dee
Dee, I honestly don’t know what you were worried about. Your garden looked lush, flowery, and brimming with interesting plants, and despite the heat it was great to stroll through it with you, meet your obsession-tolerant family, and talk and talk. What a fun morning! Thanks for having us over.
By the way, I don’t think I’ve ever been called a SOGI before, and I metaphorically looked over my shoulder to see who you were talking about. 🙂
Pam/Diggings last blog post..Cool blues and greens
Pam, I didn’t want anyone to see my front yard. LOL. You are such a SOGI, and I’m glad you came to visit. It was loads of fun.~~Dee