If I could; I would.

Went to the mall with my daughter today and this is what greeted me.

How pretty and colorful. There was the plant that is called the money plant and I recognized dianthus. there were Orange hibiscus and roses.

Today was a good day. I passed my first exam in Seminary and I kept my temper even when my computer failed to load my other photos. The weather is mild and the butterflies are friendly. the visions of my garden for next year is alive with color and empty of grass. The only thing that would have been better is me in the midst of the flowers, I almost did it but, vanity thy name is not Dorothy.

Friends of mine

This is a dear friend of mines, Mrs. Katherine Carr Esters. She is an author also and wrote her memoirs. She is the cousin of Oprah Winfrey. She supports with her time, efforts, and encouragement the Oprah Winfrey Girls and Boys club in Kosciusko, MS. and the small town itself. She has encouraged me in all of my efforts and I adore her. She is beautiful inside and out. She attended my book signing at our local library which is filled with helpful people. Stop by and visit our friendly town if you are ever in the area and tour the birthplace of Oprah Winfrey and her Girls and Boys Club. I would say that my friend is a sunflower. She has a radiant face and smile and she is useful in more than one way. Her seeds of kindness feeds and maintains many people that she comes in contact with. She adheres to her deep strong sense of justice and morals while bowing her head in humility to God. She is a precious flowere in the garden of my life. Who is a Sunflower in your life? After reading my book she said in her Maya Angelou esque voice, "Dorothy, you made me want to garden." That's a compliment!

I am hoping for more purchases of my book or at least some book reviews of my book. Where are you gardening community? I need the friends of the earth to unite in force. Ill stick to my belief: IF YOU POST IT, THEY WILL COME.

This is my friend Joyce. What can I say about her. She has a loving spirit and a southern belle essence. I feel special in her presence. She is from a small town east of our fair city. She is also a spit-fire when it comes to work. She would be a red salvia if she were a flower. So beautiful with delicate flowers that dazzel with their color. Salvias are resiliant and show stopping. You need red salvias in your garden in MS. I am glad to know this salvia in my garden life. She bought two books--did I tell you how intellegent she is :)

An ode to halloween

This my favorite time of year. I am a Christian and I am surprised with the stance of other Christians regarding halloween. There are so many other vices that are indulged in throughout the year that deals with pagan rituals and beliefs that have become so common place that the acts are not even noted. Household pets such as cats and dogs were domesticated in Egypt for their use in having direct contact to the god or goddess that the animal represented. The Pharoah would have the represetative figure (i.e. dog, cat, falcon, etc.) brought into his presence so that his requests were sure to be heard. IS THIS FACT OR FICTION? Can your innocently domesticated animal be a representative of a pagan god or goddess? Is it your intent that makes your association with the animal pagan or not? Check out the history of all that you do to make sure that you are not dabbling in unsavoury activity. As for me, I will continue to enjoy the laughs and boos of halloween. TRICK OR TREAT!!!????

I am so happy to have found what I was told a Mexican Petunia. I have admired this plant in other people's yards for two growing seasons and I found seven of them at a local nursery in Jackson, MS for $1.00 each. Talk about a blessing. I can't wait until next year to see them in action. ARE CARDS PAGAN TOO? I found them a wonderful tool to teach my little ones their number when I had little ones.

Oh halloween, the night of dread,

the favorite night of the dead.

I see your moon, its fullness shines,

The dogs are howling in the distance,

My heart beats faster in an instant.

The scary figures, shadows defines.

My feet go fast in a hasty retreat,

I hear the giggles of Trick or Treat.

Is this a game, a trick played on me?

I see no grave nor empty tomb,

But, I feel the presence of my doom.

I feel the anxiety of catastrophy.

Ghosts and goblins and withches ride,

I search ahead for a place to hide.

I run, I jump, to a bush that will do,

Imagine my surprise to find you hiding too.

IT WAS YOU!

The thrill is going, going, gone.

The thrill is gone. A final good-bye.

It's a cold rainy day today. It is actually more of a steady misty drizzle, the kind of wet fogginess that you associate with the movie "Casablanca." There are two lovers on the verge of parting. You guessed it, me and my spring/summer flowers. I look at my patchy spots of color and I bow my head to the greats that are on their way to a better home (hybernation, or death). I am comforted by the thought of the next generation that they (plants) have fathered (seeds, corms, etc.). No, this is not a final good-bye, but a see you again sometime old friend.

This is a zinnia that was a royal purple. It grew so tall. An armadillo rooted around it and knocked it over, which encouraged the plant to make massive amounts of side shouts. The one three feet tall stalk looked more like a bush as it laid on its side. Remember the glossy look is due to the rain that was falling as I took the picture.

This daisy is one of two that I planted this month. The woody stem that is to the back, left of the daisy is the trunk of a specimen forsynthia. It has been raining for four days pretty steadily. On the first day of the rains, the temp was 78 degrees. Today the temp is 50-45 degrees.

Well, with rain gear and umbrellas, my middle daughter faces the inevitable, if it is the Lord's will, momma will be at it again next year. She peeps over the fence covered in cypress vine knowing that It has really only just begun; the planning, the dreaming for next spring. Her head tilts with her own thoughts of supportive, comforting, adjectives for me, her mother. She is the greatest garden cheerleader. And my photographer, baby Guyton, will be busy clicking away. I'm sorry B.B. King, the thrill of gardening is never gone.