May flowers

Green shirt, green thumb and it was time for Mary to start gardening

When the thermometer hit the mid-80s in New York City last weekend, I did three things almost immediately at our home in Queens:

1. Pulled the outdoor furniture cushions out of the backyard shed and reinstated our patio and pergola as our go-to spot for the next six months;

2. Cranked up the house’s central air-conditioner to make sure everything survived the winter before we really needed it to be working. It was perfect, money was well spent on that new compressor last spring!

3. Made a beeline to the garden center with daughter Mary so she could pick out a few trays of flowers that she could plant at home. Bright yellow marigolds are my personal favorites, and it’s always fun to see which ones catch Mary’s eye each spring.

I have to say, it was pretty awesome to see the local garden center so well-stocked and full of life again. When we were last there in December to get our Christmas tree, the grounds were nearly empty, and we were wearing winter coats, hats and gloves.

This time, shorts and tee shirt were my thing, although Mary still clung to a comfy cotton sweat suit that she’d been wearing every third day for the last few weeks. I parked the car and Mary found a spare garden cart on the edge of the parking lot and started pushing it around. The four wheels all seemed to be pointing in different directions! I was debating with myself whether this cart was helpful or not, but as I did so Mary gave the cart a shove and she had it moving in the direction of the garden flowers.

Right away Mary found some petunias called Burgundy Stars. I looked right past those as I didn’t think they could handle the summer heat as well as the marigolds, but Mary had her heart set on the Burgundy Stars. Ok, onto the cart they went. I found some pink and red and white begonias and the requisite marigolds, and we headed for the cashier.

A garden worker blocked our path with a large hose as she watered some plants in front of us. Undeterred, Mary picked up some speed and guided the well-worn cart right over that rubber hose! I guess I underestimated those ancient wheels after all.

Back home, I let Mary unload the four trays of flowers onto the front stoop. Mary headed to the backyard to get some gloves and the garden shovel, so I started placing the individual 3-packs and 4-packs of flowers within the trays around the yard.

We started in the front yard, which is mostly landscaped but has a few noticeable open areas where I always put some bright flowers. I know from experience that wherever I place the flower packs, Mary will dig and plant there. We make a good team.

Satisfied with the layout in the front yard, I took the remaining flowers to the backyard. I made sure to put some yellow marigolds on two sides of the pergola where I’d see them in June, July, August, September and into October.

Mary was making good progress out front, so I planted around the pergola. There were enough flowers left over to put along the edge of the lawn closer to the house where we BBQ all summer. I decided to leave those for Mary.

Back out front, Mary’s face was sweaty and now dirty. She was really getting into the gardening, and most of her work was done in the shade so it wasn’t so hot for her in that cotton sweat suit. I scooped up the scattered plastic trays and empties and tossed them into the recycling bin. All that was left was the old school watering can that Mary loves to use.

Mary watered the front yard flowers, and we both stood and looked, giving the yard our stamp of approval. Backyard was done 15 minutes later and once again Mary watered everything. With a quick high five acknowledging Mary’s job well done, the annual spring ritual was declared a success.

Glancing at my watch, I suddenly realized it was 5 o’clock…somewhere. Those pergola couch cushions were calling my name, along with a cool glass of white wine. I made sure to find a seat where I could sit and admire the flowers.

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