I adore sedum 'Matrona' in the winter. Its deep brownish hue is the one shade of pink that I feel capable of handling in my garden. If only they would emerge this color, they would be a perfect plant for me... but I endure the cotton candy phase, knowing that this quiet beauty awaits me.
Just as plants need a break in the winter to rest and regroup, people sometimes need the same. I have been working every weekend, planning my spring garden, cleaning and decluttering my house, worrying about how to pay for repairs should my pipes freeze... and trying to figure out a few of life's great mysteries at the same time.
I usually thrive on stress like this, but right now I just feel taut and brittle. I am being rather shortsighted and self-absorbed in comments posted on other blogs, posts shared here, and even in one-on-one conversations with my friends. I am definitely overdue for a little hibernation. It's time to take a step back, send my energy back into my roots, and relax.
I'll be back in a week or two, and will post pictures and a review of the Cleveland Home & Flower show when I return. I am heading there tomorrow (my birthday--I officially turn 31 at 4:45am) which will be just my second day off since New Year's Day. I am looking forward to getting a few ideas for next year's garden... and some much-needed plant therapy as well.
25 comments:
Well there's a lot to stress about in this world today. 'May you live in interesting times' was really a curse, not a blessing.
I think we've bottomed out and (knock wood) your pipes will be OK from here on out. Don't stress over the garden or the blog. Let it be all joy and relief.
Happy Birthday!! Take care, have a restful break and have some fun...we'll be looking forward to you and your thoughtful posts returning soon.
Happy Birthday, Kim - the Flower and Garden show should be great fun. We'll be glad to read all about it when you're ready to tell us.
Annie
Enjoy your birthday Kim.
I evicted all gray-pink sedums from my garden because the colour irked me so.
Happy birthday. I hope your breather brings the change you're needing. Last time I was feeling discombobulated, someone told me to where my bra backwards for a day. I think a Home & Flower show might be more soothing. :-)
xo
Happy Birthday, my friend! I hope you find the renewal you're looking for. Working nonstop and pondering life's mysteries will make even the most energetic among us exhausted.
Take care :-)
Kim - Happy Birthday, and fun with your blogging time off. You're right - sometimes a break is just what's needed.
Oh yes, take some time, have some fun.
I can also picture you walking around the garden, clipping the blooms off the roses to reveal the beautiful thorns on the green branches.
Happy birthday, many more. I look forward to hearing about the flower show.
Oh, I missed your birthday yesterday! Happy belated birthday, may there be many many more!
Me too, I love my sedum matrona, it's one of my favourite perennials!
I am looking forward to seeing your next photos of that flower show! Have a great time in Cleveland!
I recently had a birthday, also! And, I was driving past the IX Center yesterday and saw all the cars piled up waiting to get in. I hope you had a great time!
Happy Birthay!
Intrigued by your blog, I'll certainlly be looking around here more. (Especially due to the fact my husband and I are trying to garden in Akron Oh, and can use the ideas!)
Hope you had a better time at the Cleveland show than we did. Seemed like there was only landscaping and "As seen on tv" displays of siding. Little or no gardening or green building. Pity. Both in the missed opportunity... and in the $26 + $8 to park!
Happy Birthday!!! Enjoy the break!
Happy Birthday and enjoy your hibernation. I love the sedum picture. Sedum is something I want to add but just haven't met the right one. Not too sprawly, not too pastelly, but just right. We'll see.
Happy birthday Kim, hope you enjoy your break.
Happy belated birthday Kim. Love the brown sedum flowers with snow and white wall.
Me, too! Happy belated birthday!
Cleaning and decluttering?? Physically and mentally, I take it...good for you!
Hope you enjoyed your time! Pictures, we want pictures! lol! (Just to encourage you...!)
Another good thing....try an excellent garden speaker with lots of wonderful slides...very easy to be inspired and put a smile on your face! Hopefully, I'm not going too far out on this limb...but, if there's a botanical garden near you, check their site for lectures and symposiums. Now, that's a relaxing way to spend a day!
Take care.
Happy birthday, and have fun.
Cheers, Yvonne
I find your comments inspiring and encouraging:)
Winter has always been a hibernating season, but we have strayed far from that and I think it catches up with us- I identified with your feelings!
Enjoy your hibernation - it sounds like a much needed (and deserved) ones. I understand the feeling. I really enjoy your post in defense of dead plants - I love my garden in the winter, and always wait until the last minute to clean out my perennial beds or prune back other dead plant materials - I enjoy them, and the birds enjoy them. Take care.
You have certainly made an impression in the Blogosphere if the number of comments from avid readers is any sign. I know that when you leave a message at one of my posts it gets my attention. It’s interesting how caught up in blogging we can become. There is a lot of interaction going on and sometimes we just need a break. You will come back refreshed and we will be here when you’re ready. I joined the party too late to wish you Happy Birthday. Hope you had a good one!
Kim... thanks for the comments this evening and I hope you are enjoying time away. And belated Happy Birthday.
when I read your introduction I knew you were an artist at heart. Lovely photos. Our worlds are very different.
Kim,
There might be other ways to save water and energy than the drastic measures you mentioned at my blog. Be sure you have looked at all the possibilities! Thanks for the visit. I did not know that about plaster walls ...
Thank you all for the good wishes and the happy birthday notes! Funny that so many people mentioned hibernation. Right after I posted this I read an article online about Aquarians (meant to be derogatory/funny) and it said that we have these weird urges to hibernate! Uh-oh... I hope they're not right about a few other things they mentioned, too. *grin*
I hesitate to reveal too much personal information on my blog, but I work in a place where December-February is usually the busiest time of the year. With the warm December, the business seems to have been concentrated in January-February instead. And going so long without a day off, downtime, etc., just finally made me crash. A few random days off have definitely helped my sanity. :)
Craig, you were so right. I had no more trouble with my pipes, but I did get a note from the water dept. wondering why my usage more than doubled in Jan-Feb. argh. And I thougth for several days last week that my clothes dryer was shot--because snow had blown up into the vent and melted, shorting out the motor! Luckily, letting it dry out worked just fine.
Melissa, thanks for the giggle... given the choice, I think that the garden show was the right way to go, too! lol.
Xris, you always have such lovely writing... I am smiling still at your kind words. :)
Jenna, I mostly agree with you--I was very disappointed that the green building aspects of the much-vaunted castle were not better explained! As for the siding... I didn't even go through the non-garden stuff, I admit. I did pet the Irish Wolfhounds, though. :) I'll be interested to see what you think of my reviews--do you have a garden blog of your own for us to check out? (*friendly nudge* because I always like to see nearby gardens!)
gotta garden, have I mentioned that although I've visited their website a hundred times I have not yet been to the Cleveland Botanical Garden? I keep meaning to rectify that, and this will be the year. As soon as I get through March.
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