Sometimes I’m not a Cynical Jerk
Though I might just be hypomanic.
Regardless, I’m madly in love with my new neighbourhood. It’s full of life; useful shops within walking distance, friendly people, families, parks, restaurants, painted alleyways, chatty old folks, balcony parties, musicians, outdoor cats, indie cafes, bike path, skateboard camp, and front lawn gardens. Lately, it’s these gardens that catch my attention. In their full, mid-summer splendour, each is different, reflecting the personality of their human caretakers. Some are carefully planned with every plant in its place, and some are haphazard and overgrown boasting more weeds than intentional flowers. All of them make me smile and fill me simultaneously with envy and gratitude.
Envy because I don’t have a garden of my own at the moment. We do have a 6′ x 3′ piece of fire escape, and the bit of space that lies beneath. This is stuffed with the few potted plants I do care for, arranged in some sort of visually attractive order (at least to me).
Bonus points to anyone who can name these bad boys
On my walks to the shops, I tend to stroll and stare at the myriad landscapes packed into a single block. Grateful because people take the time to make their tiny piece of the planet just a little more beautiful. Whether it’s unattended wildflowers or painstakingly manicured ornamental and exotic blooms, all of them are much better than concrete, gravel, and broken glass or dog poop. I prefer these gardens over lawns as well, which have never made much sense to me. A strange suburban phenomenon that requires large amounts of resources to maintain and gives very little in return.
So grateful am I, that I’ve thought of letting people know how much their efforts are appreciated by a complete stranger. Now, I’m not one to go knocking on doors, but I thought a little something like this could be left on a fencepost or tucked into a door jamb.
In my case, the other side would be the French version
Usually, I’m a little more …. er …. sharp tongued with my opinions., but I’m feeling all warm and frickin’ fuzzy today. Don’t panic, it won’t last.
I had a visitor.
Love your little potted garden. I’d put a card on your door jamb in a heartbeat. As far as naming them? Well, Alesandro, Vern, Charlie, Kelton, Dave, Jamaica Joe, William, William Jr., Mike (far left), and Loren.
Ha!
Well, she DID ask…
You are now their Godmother.
Cool beans. Garden Lass is on the job. Now, about those bonus points..
So, as I mentioned, I don’t have much of a green thumb (again, the kids are lucky to be alive, left in my care), but I appreciate the efforts that people go to to grow their own things. Whether they be well-planned or more spontaneous. I have a front lawn that requires cutting once a week (or the city will come and cut it for us (no warning) and tack the cost onto our property taxes), and I don’t get it. I’d much rather till it and try to grow some vegetables there.
Why not till it, plant a veggie patch and a sign that says “Welcome, Neighbors.”
DO IT! Even rocks and low maintenance ground covers would be lovely. Need help? I could make a trip…only fair. ;)
Don’t tease me like that. :)
My mother had all those plants. No idea what their names are in English -except for the ferns.
feel free to unleash your Columbian tongue here any time. That’s sounds dirty. I like it.
hahahahahaha
To be honest, I can’t even remember all the names in Spanish either. It’s been almost 30 years now.
But Fern = Helecho
I LOVE this post! Your garden comment card is a great idea. OMG, I just clicked on your ‘Indie cafe’ link and my husband and I used to live in that building (13 yrs ago)! Hilarious. I loved that neighbourhood.
Are you an ex-pat? You’re in Seattle now, yes? The west is the best, and if I couldn’t live here, I’d live there. I feel closer to you now knowing we’re spiritual neighbours.
Yup, I am. Seattle rocks, but my 10 years in Montreal were some of the best of my life. I love these small world connections, neighbour!
DinnerVersions,
Having lived in Montreal and dedicated a blog post to Le Clown make you even better than living in Seattle… Priorities, after all.
Le Clown
Also, the “thank you” card is a fantastic idea. Go for it!
And I’m happy you like your new neighbourhood! Great visitors you have too
I call him “Big Kitty” because he is large and bossy. Walks right into our house if the door is open, and has just about the loudest meow I’ve ever heard. Also sprays our exterior with eau de cat balls, and terrifies our poor indoor Juliette… I like him anyway.
Ha! What a character. I like him too. Poor Juliette, though
i love anyone who is both snarky AND appreciates the little things. as you do, miss thang. lovely post.
I’m a softy snark. Snarky softie? Snarftie?
I would really appreciate a card like that in my door. My flowers are overrun by weeds, though. I love your ferns. I kill those like crazy.
Weirdly, I can do ferns. I don’t know why, because I neglect the shiz out of them.
Weeds are just unwanted plants, so if they’re welcome, they’re part of the landscape, no?
The weeds aren’t welcome–I’m just too busy to do anything about them…your ferns are gorgeous…Lucky:)
I too love the idea of the card. Little compliments of all kinds to all kinds of people is what should make the world go ’round. If I could hug you I would.
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ooooh, I love your little garden :)
AND of course the card. (feel free to stick one in my door…. IF you are ever in the neighborhood – HA)
I must comment in regards to your potted pine-ish tree… I have one… unfortunately when I bought it, the garden center had just watered so it was ALL wet… when I got it home and it dried out… I realized the fuckers had sprayed glitter ALL over it… so I have a stripper potted pine tree….
I too usually kill houseplants but for some reason Boston ferns love me and refuse to die. Like your thank you card idea. It would make my or anyone’s day to receive it.
I would call your assortment “house plants.” They include a spider plant, aloe, and a Norfolk pine. And some ferny things. And maybe a rubber plant. I had a Norfolk pine for many years and it survived a lot of traumas and grew quite large. Well, until I flipped out and stopped taking care of anything at all. Then it died. Such is the way of the world.
Any garden is a good garden. I’ve sunk a lot more work into having one this year than in years prior. And about $300 – around 20+ perennials, including shrubs and bee balm and lavender and blazing stars and pink turtleheads and other flowering thingies. But I have a little more yard to work with than you, I suspect.
I’d be pretty tickled if someone left me a garden compliment card. If you letterpressed them, you’d have an awesome product to sell on Etsy. Look at the built-in customer base you already have here!
I get compliment cards from the gophers that read, “Thanks for the delicious plants you worked so hard to keep alive. We’ll be back!”
Thank you for protecting wildlife. Gophers are people too.
I actually capture and release all of the gophers. I am a sap.
Sara, with all that funky-crap energy from the other place gone, it appears to have had a delightful impression (cue white light, fairies dancing and wood creatures scurrying and singing) and I’m glad you have this garden and LOVE your neighborhood — it sounds charming and wonderful. Cynical or not, your creative brilliance shines through. I want that card. What a great idea. The only plant I know is the fern. I just get plants and make them grow. Here’s to your new digs and new neighborhood!
Reblogged this on Christopher Pannell Weblog.