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1.Thirty minutes ago I did something for the first time in my entire life.
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I bit into a peach.
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Not a peach from the super market. Or from the farm stand.
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I bit into a peach.
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Not a peach from the super market. Or from the farm stand.
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But a peach from my side yard.
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A peach from a little tree I planted myself,
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A peach from a little tree I planted myself,
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and even though I butchered it when I pruned, cutting off the main branch (what was I thinking?), this little peach tree is now abundant with peaches that taste absofuckinglutely amazing.
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and even though I butchered it when I pruned, cutting off the main branch (what was I thinking?), this little peach tree is now abundant with peaches that taste absofuckinglutely amazing.
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2. Ten minutes ago JB and I finished the design and debut of the yard, at least for this spring and summer. For us two turtles, this is a project that never ends: shrubs, perennials & annuals, gardens & tomatoes, new soil, pruning, deadheading, and mulching. Lots of mulch. The mulch has been the final inch, weeding and then laying down to block the weeds and pretty everything around it.
2. Ten minutes ago JB and I finished the design and debut of the yard, at least for this spring and summer. For us two turtles, this is a project that never ends: shrubs, perennials & annuals, gardens & tomatoes, new soil, pruning, deadheading, and mulching. Lots of mulch. The mulch has been the final inch, weeding and then laying down to block the weeds and pretty everything around it.
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I have a philosophy about the garden (same with blogging) that I make sure I honor. No pressure. No obligation. No rush. Just fun, just creativity, just young pride in helping something come alive.
I have a philosophy about the garden (same with blogging) that I make sure I honor. No pressure. No obligation. No rush. Just fun, just creativity, just young pride in helping something come alive.
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3. I haven't written new poetry in a year, maybe longer. My friend Linda asked me if I write more when I'm sad than when I'm happy, and the answer was obvious as soon as she asked the question. Yes. It's easier, for some reason, to write when I am sad, or confused. But I want to change that.
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I wrote this a few days ago.
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Untitled
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Untitled
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How did I let time stop,
Lingering even now
Past too many petrichors
Dried from the August sun?
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What did I believe
Through this tricky lens
I adapted even though the camera I had
Worked perfectly fine?
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Why did I allow
a free fall to another
Who had no ability
To catch me, only magic words
that rendered this but not that?
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Now comes the third August
And finally I am here
Rightly unraveling
Trickery so fine
I believed my own deception.
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Here now in the garden,
In between loyalty and little loves
I unfold again,
Welcoming the colors I’ve always trusted.
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And for surprising reasons:
Let the bitterness decay on its own;
Let the natural order reshuffle
the questions and leave it at that.
How did I let time stop,
Lingering even now
Past too many petrichors
Dried from the August sun?
.
What did I believe
Through this tricky lens
I adapted even though the camera I had
Worked perfectly fine?
.
Why did I allow
a free fall to another
Who had no ability
To catch me, only magic words
that rendered this but not that?
.
Now comes the third August
And finally I am here
Rightly unraveling
Trickery so fine
I believed my own deception.
.
Here now in the garden,
In between loyalty and little loves
I unfold again,
Welcoming the colors I’ve always trusted.
.
And for surprising reasons:
Let the bitterness decay on its own;
Let the natural order reshuffle
the questions and leave it at that.
Let me just say there's a lot to celebrate here!
ReplyDeleteThe photos of the abundance in your beautiful yard, the fruits of your labor paying off. No pun intended ;)
The pics are really quite stunning. I'm so glad you have your camera back!
And I like the sound of the words in this poem echoing 'strong KJ.'
Yup, I like that a lot.
Hey, I'm calling you now that I'm up from my nap after a long, but satisfying 4 days of family.
Good post KJ!!
xoxo
Love,
Lo♥
Succulent...both the fruit and your garden. My grandparents always had fruit trees and tomatoes and potatoes and oh, they were heaven...I need to hit the farmers market next weekend maybe and see if I can kind of relive my childhood.
ReplyDeleteI like the line in your poem 'Let the bitterness decay on its own' just like in a garden...
Love your cottage garden. You're fortunate you don't have sulphur crested cockatoos to pinch the stones out of your peaches and wabbits to munch on your tomatoes!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos! I envy you your peach. I have apples (pie apples) and pears, but no peaches.
ReplyDeleteSuch a DELICIOUS (in every way) post! You must be so proud to have grown those peaches and tomatoes! I am PROUD for you!
ReplyDeleteI have memories as a child of my Grandparents home where they grew just about everything...but, the thing I remember most is biting into beautiful dark red grapes....one could actually taste the sun on them.....
I love this post - I love this poem.
And, you know I love YOU!
MUWAH!
♥ Robin ♥
lovely strong happy kick-the-dirt-off your-shoes-post
ReplyDeleteWay cool on the peaches!
ReplyDeleteYears ago I received a really hateful letter form my mother. I shredded it and put the pieces into the compost pile. What hurt would disintegrate in time, I knew, and even the worst experiences contribute to your growth. Metaphor. Its everywhere.
Succulent...both the fruit and your garden. My grandparents always had fruit trees and tomatoes and potatoes and oh, they were heaven...I need to hit the farmers market next weekend maybe and see if I can kind of relive my childhood.
ReplyDeleteI like the line in your poem 'Let the bitterness decay on its own' just like in a garden...
welcome back, pp!! i missed you like crazy, but i loved that you were enjoying your family. thank you for complimenting me on these pics. i might have hit the light right!
ReplyDeleteteri, i hope you hit that farmer's market. there is something about it all that simplifies and comforts. not to mention what could be better than just picked corn on the cob and fresh tomatoes?
Hi kj! We harvested ONE peach yesterday. We have since supplemented from our local farmer's market. :) I hope to get more, but the birds are having a fiesta in our tree! :) Love your poem. I agree with lolo - much strength there. :) xox! Pam
ReplyDelete"Why did I allow
ReplyDeletea free fall to another
Who had no ability
To catch me, only magic words
that rendered this but not that?"
Those lines alone captured me and brought so much emotion to the plate of my own life. Powerful writing.
And tee hee on the peaches in your yard! :)
you have giant allium. very nice. i wish i had some. Pretty exciting growing your own peach! i would delight in that moment as well - a rich reward for your patience. i think your blog and garden philosophy is spot on - and i am really glad i came over for a visit.
ReplyDeleteI love you dearly, my friend. Remember the gospel song? Joy comes in the morning....and apparently it writes poetry!
ReplyDeleteWho wouldn't be joyful with peach juice dripping down your chin and zinnias to brighten the yard and house. Fabulous photos, as usual.
Life is good.
{{{{{hugs}}}}
Linda
hells, sulphur crested cockatoos? that sounds like a lab experiment! i don't know why i don't have rabbits in the garden: perhaps a certain immature and pushy rabbit named emily has firmly laid stake to the yard already.
ReplyDeletesnowbrush, apple and pear trees? that sounds pretty cool to me! apple cobbler: i am drooling...
well robin, i love you too! i think memories of grandparents who had gardens are among the best. my grandfather didn't, but he did bring me the tail of a pig once when i was sick. my Mother was apalled! xoxo
why thank you mim. it's only taken me too many months... :)
cs, "even the worst experiences contribute to your growth" yes, but how tall do i want to be?! by now i'm tall enough already haha (i know, i know.) i'm not ready to have a bon fire in my yard yet, but i think that time will come. i'm waiting until i can in good conscience add a blessing or two even though... xoxo
pam, not being experienced with peach trees, i wonder why the birds are bothering mine. thank you for noticing a shift in my strengthy outlook. i will be interested to see what becomes of my poems, because it seems i;m ready to write them once again. xoxo
sophia, is this you? i went to your blog: what a nice set up you've made there. thank you for the compliment. i very much appreciate it. tsup!
chickory, hello and welcome! (pam! look who has stopped by!) the peach was an auspicious moment!
linda, you are dear to me and i love you too. you support me so much. do you know how thankful i am? i think the poems are back. don't know what they'll be saying, but i'm willing to hold the pen and hit the keys. xoxo
There's something wonderful about biting into a warm peach and juice trickling down your chin, don't you think?! I see my caterpillar has been chomping on one! Love that word petrichor!
ReplyDeleteI echo what Lo said. Great post from "Strong Kj". I want me one of those peaches! Yum. Eat one for me will ya. xoxo
ReplyDeletenote to lori: hello! whenever you arrive here, i want you to know i'm glad to show you some of where i live! tsup!
ReplyDeleteFirsts are always the best aren't they Kj..
ReplyDeletePeaches are my most favorite fruits and I remember the first time I lived in California and walked out to the old peach tree and ate a peach ~ it's still the best peach I've ever eaten!!!
Aren't garden's always a first...every new spring? Whether it's perennials coming up or planting annuals? Always new birth is a first...
I love your poem....
Take care my daer Kj~
Love ~Pattee
Oh my goodness! these photos are wonderful, your peach tree is beautiful! How amazing, to grow your own. I know the feeling kj, i have my own orange trees and lemon. They taste better than anything. (but they are not beautiful peaches! lucky!)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mim, a lovely, warm, summery post, with a bonus poem.
xoxo lori
Wow! So much here that had me thinking wowwowwow.
ReplyDeleteTo eat a peach from a tree you planted is a huge event. They look luscious on the tree! We have two fruit trees that were on the property when we bought: a pear and a yellow plum. I treasure them and some years they produce so much we share with lots of neighbors.
I like your garden wisdom and will take it outside with me tomorrow. The yard, alas, I have come to realize really is mine to attend to. My husband has no interest or energy for our rather large yard, where I always dreamed we would enjoy working in it together - much like you describe here, and with something like your beautiful results. I've had a teen kid mow the last two summers but this year he petered out on me. Last week I mowed it myself for the first time in years and you know what? It felt and looked great. It put me back in touch with this piece of land and made me finally want to care for my roses again. I will do what I can without pressure, and I will enjoy the results of my labors.
The. poem. is. marvelous. I hope it felt as good to write it as it does to read it!
What a positive poem! Love your garden and I would love to have zinnia's in my garden.................
ReplyDeleteWhen you can better create poetry when sad then be glad you are not writing that much....... ;)
C U soon!!!!!! (i love that too!)
♥♥♥
>M<
you are a true poet - i thought that was amazing...
ReplyDeleteand congrats on your garden - looks like you have a real green thumb!
by the way i love your philosophy about gardening and blogging -- no pressure, no obligation, no rush --- just fun and creativity. you said it girl♡
Oh, your garden is gorgeous! And those peaches - yum!! When we lived in NM we once rented a house that had several peach tries, but one in particular that was small and the peaches were heavenly. Back then we had a big dog (our first doggie - a great dane/dalmation mix), Moe, who loved to eat peaches. So every morning, he and I would race outside to see if a peach had fallen and who would get to it first. He mostly won... Ahhh, such memories. Love, Silke
ReplyDeletehello caroline, i think your catepillar is ready to chomp on anything green and interesting! xo
ReplyDeleteannie, it's me, ms. muscle! :) i want time to make a peachie cobbler. xo
dear dear pattee, how great to see you here! i'm headed over to you now. yes about firsts. that peach was actually a special little treat. i love gardens, every year new, every time different. sounds like you quite understand, pattee. ♥
lori, i should take a picture of this poor peach tree. it would call it fruitably disabled. but it shows up anyway! thank you always for your wonderful comments, xo
lydia, it's a gift that JB likes to garden with me, but i think i would do it with glee if even by myself. i loved what you said about mowing the grass. that is an important discovery, lydia: my advice is hold on to it. xxo
good point about the writing, marianne! yes, i can't wait either. what fun we will have! i know you will love ptown and i totally know you will love lo even more than you do already. ♥
ReplyDeleteamanda, you sound like a girl of my own heart. i am NOT going to stress about the yard. what gets done gets done! thank you very much for your very kind words about my poem. xo
silke, i can just see you and moe racing! i always enjoy the way you look at life, silke. you appreciate the little things that aren't really little. xo
Oh such a beautiful peach kj,congratulations!! Yummmm!! Your garden is soaking up your creative love approach to gardening, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteAnd it seems you can tap into the poet extraordinaire in good times, too. Your voice is strong. Love, K
tsup! karin. poems in good times. yes. xoxo
ReplyDelete