You Grow Girl™

Onward.

The First Bucktown Garden Walk was a great success, with over 500 people paying a small fee for a map of the gardens, 300 of whom made it to our yard, which was the farthest from the sign-in site.

Why 500 when 2000 had been expected? The ghods who are in charge of such things decided that it would be a good day to turn on Nature's Sauna. 98 degrees and 79% humidity made it a terrible day to be anywhere except in the AC watching the Cubs.

Bob and I took turns greeting people and showing them around and even then I began wondering if would be too rude to stand in the pool to chat with the visitors...."Yes, over there (extravagent gesture) we have the raspberry vs. tomato war, while behind you (oops, sorry about the water on your dress) are the Peruvian Lilies."

One lovely thing happened that made the day for me. I'm a Cancer survivor (melanoma three years ago) and a friend gave me a Gargoyle to put out in the yard to specifically scare the Cancer Monster away.

During the Walk, a group of 9 Women came in, having a rollicking time, each with a drink cup from the bar. They were a very happy crew. One of the Women was entirely bald and not being a shy person, I shouted, "Now There is a Woman who knows how to stay cool!". She turned around and said, " Not by choice." and then I saw the meds shunt (usually used for chemo-therapy) in her chest.

I took her by the hand and introduced her to the Gargoyle. She smiled and not only rubbed the Gargoyles' nose and backside, but turned around and gave me one of the sweetest hugs I've had in a long time. Her friends paused a teary moment and then they swooped off to the next yard. I hope they all come back next year.

Our gardens were a hit and it ought to be interesting next year when the Walk is judged. The ponds and veggie garden were the stars of the show, and everyone was amazed at how simple it can be to make a pond. Only two people had negative comments at all and on a day so physically uncomfortable, I think that's a good percentage.

Vacation. Ahhhhh.....mid-Wisconsin, cabin on a large lake, woods all around, deer, eagles, cranes & peeper frogs to sing us to sleep. After 25 years spent vacationing at these same cabins, we were told that the whole place had been sold for condos and a golf course. I will not rant here about how I feel, after all, 25 years of anything positive is a good run.

I do admit, though, to a bit of botanical salvage.
My best Friend, Somara, and her family had rented one of the other cabins and on the morning we left, she took her spade out into the woods and brought home some "keepsakes" to plant and share. I did the same, equipped with a tablespoon and fork (my gardening is not always elegant).

Our gardens are now home to "Melody Waves" Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Horsetails, Soapwort, Club moss and (keep your fingers crossed) a baby Beach Willow that Bob felt needed to be saved from the bulldozers.

Came home to a yard taken over by large Argiope spiders, fish traumatized by something trying to eat them at night and and tomatos enough to make a good-sized pot of sauce....but that's for the next Journal!

--Karen--