Homicide in the House

Today I walked down stairs and realized I did it finally happened I killed it…The plant which I have moved with me since prior to my meeting my husband 17 years ago. It died.

This plant has been to college with me where my roommates cared for it. Then back to my mother's where she cared for it. To when I moved in with my boyfriend / future husband he took pity and watered it. But the plant never liked me due to lack of love and neglect… so I committed a homicide against a prayer plant. 

I grew up in a green thumb family a long line of plant lovers and gardeners. But I fell far from the per verbally tree… like down the hill and rolling away. Yep, I can't keep them alive, every year plant flowers they never grow they dry rot in the pots which they came in. I even had a friend Alicia, an avid gardener offer to help with my "green impairment" and plant my flower bed… they did great! Then next year, I tried by myself planting hundreds of seeds …3 came up and they died due to lack of supervision. 

Then, you get those "perfect" plant people..(aka my mother) saying "Sherry, when you have more time you will be able to tend to plants", this being said as she walks around her house watering her hundreds of healthy colorful plants…

Me thinking I just don't care if they die.

OK ! I admit I am jealous of her perfect plant tending talent! I do have plant envy of others… but sadly for me it is just not in the cards and I can accept my failure. I like them when they come, but I am ok when they die because time heals all plants (..that and the trash can) so it is a sign of it is time to go buy more. Maybe, my kids will be the protector of the plants and water them? Hum

Ha Ha Ha I think wrenching my hands "I would Like to introduce you to my latest victim…Mr. Tulip"

Longwood Gardens

We went to Longwood Gardens this past weekend. I visited as a child. But it was a different experience as an adult as seen through the eyes of my children. I remember the flowers but the colors are stunning and crisp. For a designer it was a feast for the eyes. It brought me back to my more recent my visits to Pikes Market in Seattle during the month of August. Hot Pinks, Lush Greens, Rich Purples, and Deep Oranges. I kept asking myself all day why can’t I get my hostas to look like that …oh then I remembered I have to water them.

I could stay in the lily pads all day it was peaceful even though there was a ton of people moving around there was a hush of awe. My DS thought the mosquito fish were “real cool” in with the lily pads and sat quietly looking at them in the water, I had to drag him away from the ponds.

The staff dyes the water black for 2 reasons to cut back on algae growth and also to hide the under water pipes and drains. I think because it makes for great pictures.

Look at some of the colors against the black.

My surprise was when the children asked to come back they wanted to explore more they were not bored by the flowers and plants. The children’s area it was fun for the kids, because the could put there hands in the fountains and play with the water. But I wondered what Longwood would do with the children’s area during the winter. My kids were soaked and the area seemed to be permanent ..so wet clothes cold weather not good. I also wished that had an area to do an activity with the children...like pot a plant?

It was a color overload for the designer and colorist in me. I wish I could capture there vibrancy them hold them close, I came up with many new designs and wish that I lived closer than 40minutes away.

The best part is we are now the pround owners of a Venus fly trap plant. A gift for my son.