The Chief

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

In between trips to our new location with crates of daylilies ready for planting, I took Karl the wonder dog for a ride out back. I have a stockpile of plastic packing crates under an old fir balsam out there and Karl accepts any excuse as reason enough to ride shotgun in the truck. He's a funny dog but a good companion.

We parked at the edge of the field as I wanted to walk down to see how some food plots were coming along that I had planted for the deer. It was wishful thinking at best that I'd see any change as it hasn't rained a drop since I planted the seed weeks ago.

We hardly had left the truck and my right arm was jolted almost out of the socket as Karl went into attack mode when three deer jumped in front of us. They had been so intent on eating apple drops that they didn't even notice us. The white hair on their rumps was enough for half blind Karl to pick up and his voice echoed relentlessly long after they were on the next ridge. His tail continued to wag and his sniffer worked overtime trying to figure out what he had just encountered.

As we returned to the house with the crates, our Chief of Hydrological Services was busy at work. Winnie is a local lady with vast experience in all sorts of horticultural endeavors dating from the time she worked at Hutchinson Gardens (now the new Plainfield Hardware). She loves to care for plants and watering is her specialty. She has been known to talk with plants and sometimes to herself but she waters for hours and enjoys every bit of it. Gail and I are lucky to have such a dedicated person who so willingly accepts a task which others turn their noses on.

In addition to watering our pots, Winnie is a driver for seniors heading to doctor and dentist appointments, she runs the local food shelf, coordinates Vermont Food Bank deliveries, and she looks out for people in need when others don't. If she learns of a hungry family, she does what she has to do to get them squared away. She's truly a special person!


Our transition to Route 2 is going very well. Tonight I completed planting Christmas Is and a pink that remains only a"pink" in my tired mind. I have planted almost 6 of the 24 50 foot by 10 foot plots so that's quite an accomplishment. Gail and Alex and I are going to take a break for 4 days and then we'll jump back at it until it's done. We have received lots and lots of fine comments about how things look and not a day goes by but what someone we don't even know stops to offer encouragement. Gardeners are friendly people and they make long days feel worth working.


Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where the ground is dry and dusty, but the ripening blackberries are juicy and tasty. If you have some time, get out into Groton State Forest and find a berry patch. There are even some red raspberries left here and there.

George Africa
The Tired Gardener

http://vermontflowerfarm.com
http://thevermontgardener.blogspot.com