Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

I’m a fool for April. How about you?

I’ll admit it. I’m a fool for April with its changeable skies:  cloudy, sunny, cloudy again.  I’ll even take the wind, although it leaves my face gritty after I walk.

Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku'

I’m a fool for newly unfurled leaves glowing against red bark.

Narcissus 'Winston Churchill' (I think) and Hyacinth 'Carnegie'

I’m a fool for narcissus, those stalwart, deer proof bulbs now dotting my yard with color and fragrance.  I no longer remember all of their names, but I still love their complicated shapes and colors all contained within the palette of white, yellow and pink.  Gail at Clay and Limestone wrote about Situational Narcissus this week.   You should go and have a look see.

Hellebore 'Ballerina Mix' is having a more difficult time than the ladies.

I’m also a fool for hellebores, but you knew that.  Mine are still blooming beautifully and will until the weather gets really hot.  The red and blue ladies are in their third season, and, like can-can dancers, really strutting their stuff.  Interestingly, although Helleborus x hybridus ‘Red Lady’ and H. x hybridus ‘Blue Lady’ are tissue cultured, and therefore, supposed to remain true to form, I think they look alike.  I have two red ladies and one blue lady, and it is difficult to tell the difference.  Barbara from Mr. McGregor’s Daughter has H. x hybridus ‘Pink Lady’, which looks very similar to mine.  Someday, I’ll write a post about seed strains and such, but for now, you can read what I wrote for State by State’s newsletter about hellebores.

Helleborus x intermedia 'Red Lady'

The flowers of the euphorbias are making an appearance.  Euphorbia x martinii ‘Ascot Rainbow’ is new to the shade garden this spring and is already in bloom just like my older variety on the opposite side of the garden.  The ‘Blackbird’ variety I planted in a container last summer died, probably from the cold even though the pot was in a protected area next to the house.  I am happy to say the three Japanese maples planted in containers are doing great.  I think I will move them into more shade this summer though.

Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow' has variegated foliage to go with its spaceship blooms.

“April showers bring May flowers,” but in Oklahoma, they can also bring huge thunderstorms with lightning and even tornadoes. Like the storms of life, they quickly emerge and then pass away.   Let’s hope whatever is making my father-in-law, Ken, ill also passes with godspeed.  He has been in the hospital for over three weeks.  I send blessings to my sisters-in-law who are tirelessly caring for him and my mother-in-law, Marie, who is home.  He seems to be improving, and so I hope he will quickly be set right.

The front garden is all ready for visitors.

I only write this because I believe for the first time in years, we won’t have our large Easter celebration here on Sunday.  My mother and sister will come, but perhaps no one else.  It will be different, and change is hard, but life is full of it.  I’m just grateful my mother is well enough to come.

Easter blessings from my house to yours.

It’s Holy Thursday, and tonight we celebrate the Last Supper with the washing of parishioners’ feet and final consecration of the Eucharist.  Although tomorrow is Good Friday, and we’ll be attending the liturgy at 3:00 p.m., for me, Holy Thursday is the saddest day of the season.  As in the Old Testament, a garden becomes an important part of the story.  The disciples fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, leaving Jesus to pray and face Satan alone.  Then, Peter betrays Jesus.   To die for others is hard, but the disciples’ betrayal and lack of faith were harder to bear.

As they care for their ailing parents, my sisters-in-law are in the Garden with Him, but they are awake.  Suffering is never easy to watch especially if it someone you love.  Having cared for my mother these past few years, my sister and I give them our hearts and this final bouquet of flowers they probably won’t see this Sunday.

A blessed Holy Thursday everyone and Happy Easter.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Willi

    Happy Easter, Dee. I hope you are enjoying your family and garden on this day and I send good wishes for your father-in-law.
    .-= Willi´s last blog ..Inoculating Peas with Rhizobia Bacteria =-.

  2. Christine B.

    Sixty-five degrees in spring: wow. That’s just about as hot as it gets here. Your yard looks like the perfect place for an egg hunt. Mine is covered in snow still. Phooey! Hope your loved ones recover speedily.

    Christine in Alaska

  3. Les

    I hope despite your family’s situation that you can still make the most of your Sunday and celebrate Easter. I also hope your father-in-law gets better soon.

  8. Meredith

    Thank you, Dee, for the Easter blessing with St. Francis in the background. What a lovely vignette!

    Sending wishes for healing to your father-in-law and best wishes for a lovely gathering even though it will not be as full as you’d have liked. I can really empathize, as we now don’t get to attend as many functions as we’d like, with the long drive home between me and my family. Certain holidays feel strange indeed without the whole group gathered ’round. May your gorgeous spring garden lift your spirits!
    .-= Meredith´s last blog ..by the way =-.

  9. Dorothy

    How lovely your garden is this early spring and what a comfort to be surrounded by all that beauty. Have a wonderful and meaningful Easter weekend
    .-= Dorothy´s last blog ..Home again =-.

  13. Janell West

    Dee,

    With you, I hope for your other father’s recovery.

    Change is hard. Our Easter dinner will be a quiet affair as well. No more big gatherings around Mom’s Easter table. We’re just remnants now — my brother, sister and I. But we keep Easter in our own ways, at our own tables.

    When I wrote last night’s post, about there being no better place to spend Holy Week than kneeling in the garden, I could not help but think of Jesus, kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane. I didn’t write the connection — but it was there never the less.

    With you, I look forward to Easter morn — when with Mary Magdalene, we can mistake the risen Jesus for the gardener — for this little snippet from St. John, I like to think of Jesus as the world’s first Master Gardener.

    Your front garden is beautiful in its Easter best.

    Peace to you and yours,

    Janell
    .-= Janell West´s last blog ..No Better Place =-.

  17. Gail

    Dear Dee, So very sorry to hear that your FIL is still ailing~~I know he is surrounded with love and good care and that can help healing move along…..Thank you for the link love, I am tickled pink that you liked my post;) I am even gladder that you are in my life~A happy Easter to you and your adorable family. gail
    .-= Gail´s last blog ..Muse Day~The Sun =-.

  20. Mr. McGregor's Daughter

    Thanks for the link love. One of my ‘Pink Lady’s looks just like yours. The others look like ‘Blue Lady’s, so you just never know. Your garden looks perfect for Easter, just filled with blooms. I love April too, it’s definitely my favorite month. I’m saying prayers for your father-in-law’s recovery. Happy Easter!
    .-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..My Apologies to the Deer =-.

  24. Cyndy

    Wow – this is so beautiful. Hope you are able to enjoy your smaller gathering in His name this Easter, and continue to delight in the gifts of your beautiful garden.
    .-= Cyndy´s last blog ..Song for a Little House =-.