Thursday, March 21, 2013

Grow Write Guild Post #1

Grow Write Guild


This is my first post in the Grow Write Guild writing prompt series. See yesterday's post for details about the Grow Write Guild .

This seemed like fun until someone said they'd be reading my response to this prompt. Suddenly I felt nervous. When I write a blog post I feel comfortable, try to check my spelling, and not go completely off topic. For some reason the thought of people critiquing my writing sent me back to my 7th grade writing class. The one where we had to read our stories in front of the class. Well, I've had to remind myself that this can be fun and not to take myself so seriously.

Grow Write Guild #1: My First Plant

I don't remember having a 'first' plant. My initial response was, "I've always loved plants." But,  when thinking about a particular plant that first sparked my interest, and eventual love of plants, I know there was one. One that I've mentioned on my blog before. 

When I was about 8 years old, my mom took me with her to visit a friend here in Vancouver, WA. Betty was known for having an immaculately kept house. That day was the first time I'd seen her back yard and I can still picture it clearly. 

It was a small, fenced yard with a big shade tree. The lawn was an oval shape, dark green and  perfectly trimmed. Along the edge of the lawn was a border of plants with an intense dark blue flower. It was the most beautiful flower I'd ever seen and the most perfect back yard. That is the first time I recall asking an adult the name of a plant. Betty told me it was Lobelia. Crystal Palace to be exact. 


Blue Lobelia along the edge of a lawn
Flickr photo some rights reserved by daryl_mitchell
Creative Commons license

Every year (despite learning that I liked perennials better) I still buy a few annuals, and always buy a 'six-pack' of blue Lobelia.  I recently discovered a variety I liked so much I wrote about it in my blog last spring. That one was called, "Big Blue", the name sold me, I bought it without seeing a single bloom.

I don't recall the first plant I planted or the the first plant I grew from seed, most likely an avacado pit. I do recall the impression of walking out into her back yard and seeing those flowers. People talk about having 'aha' moments and I think that seeing that yard and those flowers was one for me. 

 

22 comments:

  1. Great post! I actually planted some Crystal Palace Lobelia seeds earlier tonight!

    Mary
    http://marysgardengrows.com

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    1. Thanks Mary, I've never tried growing Lobelia from seed. After reading your post I found it interesting that we both have an established six-pack tradition. Marigolds are the first flower on my list for the vegetable garden.

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  2. How lovely! I hadn't considered lobelia for the garden, but now I might have to - I'm a sucker for anything blue.

    I'm enjoying this Grow Write Guild a lot. You'll find my response to the first prompt here:

    http://whenitsathome.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/choose-your-own-adventure/

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    1. Siobhan, I have never heard violas called "Johnny Jump Ups", what a great name. Your childhood adventures sound a lot like mine. You are right about how this prompt brought out the unexpected.

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  3. What a wonderful childhood memory of the blue lobelia!

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    1. Thanks Amanda. My mom told me she sent my blog post to her friend Betty. I'm sure she will be surprised at how influential her garden was to me.

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  4. What a stunning & intense color...and a lovely childhood memory!
    -Bailey

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  5. Being introduced to gardening or flowers as children seems to be something most of us(in the Guild)have in common.

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  6. Oh, I love that lobelia!!! Thank you for sharing your growing memories. Now I need to see if I can find some of that lobelia in my zone.

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    1. I think this writing exercise has become more about nostalgic memories of our introduction to plants.

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  7. Such pretty flowers, and such a nice story. I'm having so much fun reading about everyone's "first plants."

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    1. It's been entertaining to hear everyone's stories.

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  8. Lobelias are my husbands favorite flower. The first time we had them we grew them from seed and he's been attached to them ever since. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Stephenie, You are the second person to mention growing lobelia from seed. I may have to give it a try.

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  9. Oh, the avocado pit :) I also have a soft sport for lobelias.

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    1. Hilary, I've seen a couple of other posts that mentioned avacadoes as their first plant.

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  10. I love the color of the flowers, but for some reason these never do very well in my garden. After reading your post, I might have to try them again this year. Thought I'd share my post from the Grow Write Guild exercise... My First Plant

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    1. Amy, the lobelia may not be tough enough to survive the hail storms there. Look forward to reading the 2nd installment of GRG.

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    2. Make that GWG not Grow Right Guild...

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    3. We don't really get much hail. I think it's the sandy soil, it dries out too much. Not sure though.

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  11. Hello, Valerie. I love your colourful, cheerful blog. Thank you for commenting on my post.

    I enjoyed reading your story very much. This is such a sweet childhood memory and you told it so well. I can understand why this lovely blue flower evoked the "Aha" response in you and continues to be part of your garden.

    Here's to the start of a glorious spring and lots of brilliant blue in the garden.

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  12. Thanks, Elaine. I'm looking forward to plant shopping and reading the next set of responses to the GWG Prompts.

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