Liam in a lazy sit trying to get warm on a blustery May day
Last week's blog spoke of April 2010, which seems to be the hottest April on record at an average of 57.9 degrees. In May we have had frosts, swirling breezes, wintry rain, sudden surprising wind gusts, cold, I mean cold. It was 42 on Monday, May 10 here in NY. And out on the edges of Long Island 24 degrees. We are chilling in an April-like dreary rawness now.
Did April and May change places?
Isn't April the" cruellest month?"
Overheard at Starbucks today from one of the regulars, "Why aren't you decorated for Halloween? That is sure what it feels like out there."
After my Mom Ruth passed away this March, I received a few condolence rose plants. Just babies right now, I have been caring for them indoors and the instructions promise if treated nicely, fed and watered properly they would be okay indoors until the weather warmed a bit. When the threat of frost had passed, I could transfer them outside. They have not exactly thrived but were hanging on for their chance at the outdoors. We had the hottest April ever, The roses would be out in the heat, flourishing soon.
Mother's day is the day when all gardeners in zone 7, where we reside, are assured that planting annuals, and bringing indoor plants out is okay. I believed this to be true. Since Sunday May 2, had a high temp of 88, I figured we were over any problems of winter weather. The mini roses were planted outside, right before the howling month of May startled us with its ferocity.
I had an idea borrowed from a friend whose family had commemorated their mother by planting a garden in her honor. My rose plant gifts presented me with this same option. My planting would be in an already existing garden space with some patio stones, my Mom's dog statue named Yorkie, a weeping angel (she knew something), a short bird bath-it was an already busy enclave.
I would be dedicating the area as Ruth's Rose Garden, Ruth's mother was Rose, I had these roses, so there it is.
As I have mentioned, I found only one framed picture on Ruth's desk and it was of Liam. She said "He looked independent, brave, and his own person." She loved to look at that pic- it made her smile. So I googled and found a company that makes plaques and imprints photos onto the plaques.
http://www.plaquemaker.com/
I had it inscribed Ruth's Rose garden with Liam's pic-they did such a loving creative job.
Here is a pic of it finished so you have a visual of what I am describing as the story continues below
I needed to screw the plaque into a piece of wood in order to set it up above ground, found none around the house, yard or street. Again googling brought me to a local local lumber yard. http://www.stixnstones.com/Their site was very inviting and the deciding factor was that one of their trucks was painted pink to encourage awareness in the fight against breast cancer-a fight my mother was in before her death. A pink truck! This seemed prescient of a good relationship as well as good Karma for Ruth's Rose garden. I emailed, received a return email from Dawn, emailed back that I would come in. Good. A woman was working there-it might not be just a sacred male bastion of building materials. I was invited to come by any time. Last Thursday, I drove up and only saw huge trucks with skids of lumber, planks, rough looking men. As I entered, I felt a testosterone camaraderie in the air. I almost bolted as all I had was my 4x8 stainless steel plaque. I feared that my project might be too insignificant for them. I had no truck, no routine standard order, as many did, could offer no frequent buyer handshake.
But I forced myself to wait with all the guys. Where was Dawn? In the back? Maybe she worked off site at home watching Oprah. She was the person I had emailed with several times about what I needed. I SO wanted to see a woman.
My turn came and I proudly announced I had a unique order. I did not want to predispose anyone into thinking mine was not as worthy as the big ones. I also added that I had been emailing with Dawn, hoping to show I was not just a walk-in. My guy was very interested-I think he was relieved to have to solve something different, a change from 5000 planks of wood, and 20 tubs of cement blocks. Anyway, I was led from the office to the open-air warehouse where I luxuriated in the intoxicating smell of all kinds of fresh lumber. Together we strolled up and down aisles bordered by stacks of different types of wood. We were soon joined by another employee who seemed to be higher ranking because only he had the authority to use the giant electric saw to slice my chosen plank. I picked, he did the sawing. Job done. I had my materials. The boss yelled out "don't charge her?" Free! I thanked all profusely and explained the reason for the plaque. Everyone seemed reluctant to return to his/her traditional big orders. Now I had some wood and the plaque. My lumberman added "I am sure your husband can help you screw the plaque to the wood and the stand" I smiled a goodbye. Paul is the Chef in our house-the indoor guy; I do the outside work, outdoor girl, no need to explain to my new friends.
I screwed the plaque to the wood with a small degree of pain and difficulty since toolgirl had no electric screwdriver that worked, nor any proper sized screws with tops wide enough for my Phillips screwdriver. Got it done.
I emailed the invisible virtual Dawn my thanks. She replied "I am glad you are pleased, we have been in business 54 years."
Here is Ruth's Rose Garden from afar, See her dog statue at left, and those leaves in the pot and to the left are future rose bushes, thanks friends!
You think they will survive this rough May start? The cherub is weeping.
Ruth's Rose garden also has a rabbit visitor
and Liam spends a lot of time trying to catch him 
and sniff him out of his rabbit hole
as well as digging in Ruth's garden. Maybe Ruth's rabbit
and dog garden would be a more apt title.
I wonder if this rose garden has a chance. Somehow, I think Ruth would be okay with whatever happens. I know she would say in her charmingly Ruthless way
"Let Liam have his fun, where are the roses anyway?"
Woof, woof
