Flowery Prose


Wherein Our Heroine Sees Green.

I just thought you might like to know that my geraniums are very, very happy.

I don't know why you might like to know this, other than the fact that I'm sitting here, wondering what to say today and viewing their verdant loveliness. The pink one has a couple of brave blooms and an entire battalion of buds, ready to spring into action. The others look sure to follow suit any minute.

Is there a 12-step program for geranium owners? It seems that you either like the geranium or don't; and those of us who like the geranium seem to acquire more and more of them as the years go on. It usually starts with the standard scarlet, then after you own a bunch of those, it goes on to different colors, then the fancier types - firecrackers (with spiky flowers of two colors), scented (lemon or rose: brush past them and their perfume lingers), Martha Washington (with crazily serrated leaves and fluttery, frilly, two-color flowers). There are, of course, more. But I won't bore you (further).

Don't get me wrong: I am no geranium expert. You don't have to be. The darn things will grow like crazy just given sunshine and water. And there are so many types, with so many different qualities, that a trip to a nursery almost always ends up bringing home a new one. Never mind that the trip to the nursery was for herbs, hostas, or a new Japanese maple. A geranium will find its way into my car for the homeward journey. It's like a packet of gum at the grocery store - a flowery impulse purchase.

So, as a consequence, I have quite a few. Another fun fact about geraniums: they're migratory. Really. They love sunshine so much, that in the spring they get moved from the upstairs hallway (great sunshine in the winter) to the deck in back (great sunshine in the summer). Their first few days in a new location, they get very nervous. They throw the geranium equivalent of a tantrum, shedding leaves and looking like they want to jump off the railing. The experienced geranium owner knows to ignore their megrims - they will get over it in time. Sure enough, in a few days, they are wondering why they ever complained about being in this hot, sunny, humid place. Why, it's perfect for us! Let the flowering begin!

Indeed.

Posted: Monday - May 17, 2004 at 08:14 AM         | |


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