late spring in Portland

Colors of Spring

Dear Liza,

We all went out for a walk Saturday, and since it is spring, we wore overcoats and boots and carried umbrellas…. Just in case.

But even though there were some massive clouds, we didn’t get a drop of rain! Just oodles and oodles of flowers. Wisteria has draped itself over arbors….

The cherry trees have dropped their pink snow drifts all over Ladd’s Addition…

Dogwoods are just too pretty to be believed…

And the lilacs were being lovely and smelling fabulous!

I’ll tell you about where we were headed…. Tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Rainbow Season

Dear Liza,

The world has exploded with color here in Portland! We are still getting some rain, but temperatures are up and it looks like I will be able to get some things planted in my garden plot early next week.

Meanwhile, here is a song, written by dear Laurel Bloombaum years ago, about rainbows.

When sun shines through raindrops,

an arc of hope is seen.

Red on top, orange , yellow

and green.

Indigo blue

and violet too.

Down come the colors of promise to you.

Happy birthday, dear Liza, and happy spring!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Finally, a Real Gardening Day! Part 2

Dear Liza,

After lunch, I gathered up all my supplies. Gardening tools, several pounds of ground up egg shells, seeds, and lettuce seedlings I started in an egg carton all got piled in a box, and off I went.

The egg shells got worked into the soil for the tomatoes and sprinkled all around.

The delicate lettuce starts got planted while still in their cardboard cribs.

The five different organic cherry tomatoes got planted in their cages, in the sunniest part of the garden.

As I was working, a neighborhood cat (complete with collar and bell) came by to visit my catnip plant! She was very relaxed, like she was in her favorite pub. She barely even noticed me.

The ’shadier’ side of the garden, closest to the tall camellia bush, got sown with carrot, zucchini and radish seeds, so doesn’t look like much at the moment. I will keep you posted.

The dahlias got put between the sunflowers and the catnip, and boy, is that a full garden! Look at all that green! I am very pleased and will go back early tomorrow to make sure everything is okay. (I have learned not to be too optimistic!)

Love,

Grandma Judy