Just in time for Mother’s day, it bloomed.  I planted it with my mom a few years ago but this was the first time I saw the flowers.  It’s beautiful.  I guess I could be sad she never saw it, but I am happy for the gladness it is giving me today  – the first spring without my mom.  I got up early with the sun and started working in the garden or re-potted things inside when it we got some rainy spells.  It was the best way to be close, in her garden that she loved so much.

Back in April, what started as a light “icing sugar” dusting in small places ended up this week as broad, thick flags of yellow every where you look – no matter what the street.  Every morning my bus takes me past house-lined streets, sidelines of the Don Valley, a golf course, and pockets of commercial office complexes.  Forsythia bushes abound in all kinds of plantings and landscaping.  Some are trimmed to a compact shape, while others resemble my mother’s forsythia in the backyard.  She liked to let the branches grow long.  The blooming is like a spray of yellow star-bursts falling down to the ground.  On my way home – if I take the walking route – I pass three wonderful masses of forsythias.  That time of day the sun is low and shining through the yellow petals.  The yellow is indescribably intense – perhaps because there is so much of it.  The bushes are like portals into another reality where “yellow” is what you eat, sleep, and breathe.  Living in the “yellow place” is smooth and sweet like lemon sorbet, deeply satisfying, and it’s all you need.

snowdrops on the first day of spring – march 20/2015

Spring means bleaching the birdbath and bringing the pots of lilies and assorted bulbs out of the garage.  They got a good soaking after getting home this afternoon to help the sprouting leaves fill out a bit.  A robin has been around the birdbath and garden since March, and a woodpecker pair visits again regularly. Both lady and male were hanging yesterday in tandem on the suet cage.  An energetic chipmunk pops by often – or maybe it’s a male and a female taking turns sorting through the seeds on the ground.  At any rate there are little surprises now every day travelling on paws or wings, and more sedentary ones blooming in quick succession: the last of the galanthus are giving way to blue scillia; grape hyacinths; daffodils; and hellebores.  The warm hug of sun on your skin, the gaze of a perfect blue sky, and lungs filled with earthy spring air is intoxicating – the winter wait was worth it!

This time of year, these berries jump out at my gaze with their extravagant colours just pleading for attention.  Every time I look out the window, I am reminded of my Mom and how much she loved this native plant, drawing and painting its berries and leaves in many different poses and angles.
It seems though, to be truly appreciated, the best portrayal is seeing as it takes the spotlight in the fading garden and turns the somber cloak of fall into a Mardi Gras celebration.

White Baneberry – Actea pachypoda

   Like babies crawling over a crisp white duvet-covered bed, my backyard bees plough through each long spire of the Culver’s Root flower. This summer has been a time of patient waiting for anonymous green sprouts to turn into plants and then – when they are ready – offer up their flower to insects and my grateful gaze.  Some I recognize, others trigger a studious flipping through of my Mom’s collection of plant books.

Once the Culver’s Root plant delivered a bud with the long spikes, I had a chance of identifying it.  I found photos of it in two of my Mom’s books: Grow Wild! by Lorraine Johnson, and Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm.  Now I know to identify it by the long green stalk with whorled leaves.  Besides the bees and wasps, lots of butterflies including the Red Admirals also like to inspect the little white flowers lined along each spike.

    Next spring I may just let it be.
The Jewelweed that is – “Pale Jewelweed” to be precise.  I pulled a lot out of the back garden because the tall plants seemed to be sprouting up everywhere.  I remember Mom saying to just pull it out to keep them from crowding out the other plants, and as much as possible I’ve been trying to follow her voice in my head.  But this summer things have changed and the Jack-in-the-Pulpits have been in need of shade.  I started hanging an old blue flannel sheet in front of the the pulpit patch to keep off the afternoon sun – Mom would have been amused.

The dilemma started last summer when the big Elm in the backyard died. The space has gone from a shade to a full sun garden, and I feel some of the plants are reeling from too much of a good thing.  Even the Jewelweed isn’t suited to all the sun but it seems a pretty resilient native plant.  As long as I am around to make sure they get enough water, they can survive.  Looking at the spot where the Jack-in-the-Pulpits grow, a small number of Jewelweed could provide a canopy for the shorter pulpit plants.

Reading about “Impatiens pallida” I discover that their juice – especially the spotted variety – provides a Poison Ivy remedy. That use won’t be needed in my garden, but I love this time of year when the bees come to dance in their open flowers.  At eye level I gaze at pale yellow blooms looking like delicate earrings dangling above long flowing green gowns.  Shall we dance?

.  I had to smile. Judith still had the touch.

My mother gave Judith a baby clivia years ago, and ever since Judith’s has out bloomed my Mom’s plant hands down.  Over the years when we visited Judith and Viktor and the clivia was blooming, my Mom was always amazed at the abundance of flowers from the one plant. She could never figure out what Judith’s secret was.  In spite of trying out all the tips – allow the plant to go dormant over winter, less light, cooler temps, etc. – all to no avail.

Yesterday at Harbourfront, Judith gave me an envelope.  Later at home I opened it and inside was a photo taken earlier that day of her clivia plant.  Judith said when the clivia is in bloom she always thinks of my Mom.  The card was such a lovely way to mark the occasion of the “Tribute to Jean”.

Four weeks ago today was Mother’s Day.  Jean had been in the hospital since Wednesday evening and I wanted to spend the day with her and celebrate the occasion.  Saturday I choose a card at a drugstore close to the hospital, but I decided not to bring flowers because friends had already brought so many wonderful bouquets – including a beautiful purple orchid

Before leaving for the hospital early Sunday morning, I took a photo of the miniature forsythia bush in the front garden.  I knew that Jean was missing being with the garden, and especially at this time of year.  After the snowdrops  and crocuses, the forsythia was the flagbearer of spring with the daffodils and tulips in tow.  On the tablet I showed her the little burst of yellow in the garden and smile lit up her face.

Later in the morning, a physiotherapist came by for her session – helping her take a few steps, a light massage to loosen up the stuff in her lungs, and setting her up in the chair door a few hours sitting upright.  She asked his name and hearing it was Peter, she said oh, we have a friend called Peter.  He is always out knocking on doors and talking to people in his riding about what is on their minds. Therapist Peter said, he sounds like a man of the people.  Jean oh yes, and he also wear sensible shoes like you do.