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It was my most favorite blue flower in the whole wide world, and Aunt Bett wanted to fix it for supper. I pouted, I pleaded, and in the end I refused to eat it. Just imagine, it was like eating Peter Cottontail or Kitty Fluff. How could she do that to my favorite blue flower? This the fourth in my Aunt Bett series.
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When I was two, my mother helped me plant my very own flower garden. I only wanted blue flowers, so she gave me iris and spiderwort to plant. The iris was easy for me, because I only laid it on top of the bare ground and pushed a little soil up around those long funny looking roots. My two year old fingers were a little clumsy with the more fragile spiderwort, but I was determined and I remember digging a hole with a teaspoon, putting a clump of tender little plants in the hole, then being very gentle when I patted the soil over the roots. I do remember being upset because they would not stand up, so my mother poked a tall stick in the soil beside my wilted plants and tied the little things up with string. Believe it or not, with a little water and a little luck, both the iris and the spiderwort grew and bloomed for many years. Later I added bright red bee balm when I decided that red was also my favorite color, and as far as I know the mountain side is still dotted with blue iris, blue spiderwort and lots of red bee balm. That mountain land belonged to my Mom's side of the family, and after the war when my Dad came home we moved about a mile up the road to my Granny Ninna's where I lived until I went away to college and then to a home of my own. It was while living in Granny Ninna's house that I began my journeys with my great Aunt Bett. Aunt Bett was my Mom's aunt, and she was a true mountain medicine woman. I thought she just had a lot of friends, but I realize now that most of her visitors came for her various cures for whatever ailed them. I was really afraid of Aunt Bett. She was not comfortable with children, and I certainly was not comfortable with her. Why she ever chose me to assist her on her journeys, I don't really know, but I think it might have been because I was the only child available. The houses were few and far apart in the mountains of southeast KY during the 50's. And I was very quiet, of course being scared speechless by Aunt Bett and her magic did diminish the childish chatter considerably. She was a firm believer in the things she had learned from her mother and her grandmother. Take the asphidity bag for instance. I had to wear the stinking thing so that I would be protected from all harm. Truthfully I was too scared of Aunt Bett to not wear it. To me she was magic, so I thought she might turn me into a toad if I didn't obey her. There is nothing like a little fear of magic to keep a young lady on her toes. Aunt Bett believed that everything was put on this earth for a reason. She and I differed only in that I wanted flowers to be decorative, and treated them as beloved pets. It bothered me to gather, cut, up root, or de leaf my favorite blooms and I certainly was not going to be eating them for my supper. It was quite unusual to find a little girl who refused to eat a dinner of baked chicken, fried chicken, steak or pork chops during a time when food was so scarce, but I had fed those animals and I had given them names, patted Old Pied (the milk cow) on the nose and hand fed those little peeps when they were just out of the shell. I wouldn't eat eggs either, because believe me, I knew where those little chicks came from. Aunt Bett and I at this point had our first quarrel. She decided it was time to gather spiderwort. If a plant was to be used for medicine, it was one thing. If its leaf was to add flavor to cooked food, well, that was fine. Getting a leaf plucked off didn't hurt the plant, it was similar to getting your fingernails trimmed, I thought. But Aunt Bett wanted to chop up the entire spiderwort and cook it for dinner! Not in my lifetime, I told her. (There has to be a first time for everything, even saying "NO" to Aunt Bett.) I did go on the spiderwort hunt with her, but that did not mean I was going to make a meal of my favorite flower. So here is the story of Aunt Bett and my favorite blue Spiderwort, Tradescantia occidentalis. She convinced me that Mother Nature, being a very knowledgeable old lady, would give back to us that which we used for good reason. She said that nature gave us medicines through plants, and as long as we only took our fair share, and left some for regrowth, then we were assured of enough medicine to last our lifetime. Keep in mind, I did believe every word out of Aunt Bett's mouth, because she only said things that were important for me to know. We never wasted time in idle conversation. Early in the morning while the dew was still on the ground and the sun had barely touched the mountaintop, Aunt Bett and I started out on our journey up the side of the mountain. I carried the big paper sack full of smaller paper sacks and a pair of scissors deep in the bottom of the bag. And I wore the stinking asphidity bag to protect me from the goblins and gremlins, even though it was in early July. Spiderwort grew in clusters on the mountainside very near a running stream. They didn't seem to mind the dappled shade of the trees as long as they were close to moisture. I enjoyed these trips for spiderwort because being beside the stream was beautiful. It made a gentle gurgling sound and it seemed to me it was always a gathering spot for birds and small squirrels and chipmonks. Aunt Bett and I were so quiet, they never seemed to mind that we were in their territory. Going out in the early morning brought some hazardous moments. Though very beautiful in the sunshine, spiderwebs were also spun in the shade, and those weren't so easy to see. Many times I had to stop and disentangle myself from an invisible web that was strung like a clotheline from one tree and on to another. And more often than not, I had to cough and gag from the idea that I might have swallowed a spider. I quickly learned to carry a bandana that I could wave in front of me to clear the way of spiderwebs, but sometimes I just walked a little more closely behind Aunt Bett. We followed the stream till we came to the many clusters of spiderwort. They were very fine, fragile plants and gently fluttered in the slightest breeze. I thought they looked like little ballerinas dancing together in the rays of sunshine. We gathered the spiderwort, me apologizing to the lovely plant with every snip of the scissors, but I did as I was told and true to her habit, Aunt Bett only gathered a few stalks of the plant from each of the clusters. We filled up our bags, and if you are familiar with cutting spiderwort, the juice that comes from the stalk when it is cut is very stringy, much like a spiderweb. I always wondered if that is where they got their name. Gathering spiderwort was a pretty messy endeavor, spiderwebs and spiderwort juice all mixed together made for a very sticky kid. After we filled our little paper bags, and then the big burlap sack with all we needed, we always washed our hands in the little stream that ran cold down the mountain. In the spring I could see tiny fish, sometimes tadpoles in the flatter puddles of the stream. There was always something to be seen. While we sat by the stream and ate our lunch, this time we had fresh molasses on Aunt Bett's homemade biscuits, she told me of the importance of the spiderwort plant. Seems that it all started with Native Americans who gathered spiderwort for the same reasons that we were gathering it. They also used it for food and for medicine. The young leaves were eaten like salad greens, or mixed with other greens like the dandelion or poke, and fried or boiled till tender. The fresh plant was also mashed and rubbed into insect bites to relieve pain and itching. And from the fresh plant the leaves and the stalk could be mashed into a type of poultice to treat boils and infected skin areas. We hung most of the plant in clusters to dry on the rafters of Aunt Bett's back porch, along with other herbs and plants she had gathered. Dried and ground, a tea could be made from it to use as a laxative or for other assorted tummyaches and pains. Though I did not know it at the time, the tea was also given to young women to treat menstrual cramps and other associated problems. Aunt Bett also used it to treat kidney infections. She was never hesitant to use the entire cut plant for all these treatments. If you are familiar with spiderwort, the bloom just fades away and disappears into its little green cup if it is picked and receives no more water. Hanging it upside down on the back porch kept most of the juice inside its stem as well, so when it was dried it was still full of nutrients. We usually made a second trip up the mountain to gather spiderwort one more time before it stopped blooming. This was strictly for the new growth that had started after our first cutting. Aunt Bett did not use the bigger plants or the tougher older stems, she only gathered the tenderest newest offerings, because she said that was the best time for fresh medicine. So once more it was a bittersweet journey to gather this plant. I didn't like cutting the lovely blue flowers only to see them wilt right in front of me, but I did enjoy the trip beside the trickling stream. I didn't like fighting the spiderwebs or imagining spiders in my mouth, but I did enjoy dipping my hand into the creek to grab a handful of that icy mountain water to wash out my mouth. Besides, I had on my asphidity bag, so I knew the spiders and the tadpoles wouldn't really come near me. I reconciled myself to the fact that Aunt Bett would do as she pleased, and just as I did with the asphidity bag, I might as well listen and learn. Here is Aunt Bett's recipe for spiderwort greens: "Wash the fresh picked plant. Chop in small bite sized pieces. Simmer for a few minutes in enough water to cover. Add a pinch of salt. Drain, throw out water. Sprinkle a little lemon juice over greens. Eat with green onions and cornpone. Goes down good with a glass of cold buttermilk." None for me, thank you very much, but I did learn one more surprising thing that I dearly loved to do. I learned to make dye from the sweet blue spiderwort flowers. Eventually Aunt Bett and I planted Spiderwort in my yard and in hers. It was easy to transplant and grew very well for both of us. One warm summer day, she taught me to make blue dye from the freshly picked blue blossoms, and here is that recipe: "8 cups of water 8 cups of blue flowers, no green Combine flowers with water and bring to boil, then set away from heat and let set overnight. Come morning, strain the plant out, and save the blue water. Dissolve 1 tablespoon alum with 1 teaspoon cream of tarter in a small amount of hot water, and stir into dye. Use a long wooden spoon and be sure it dissolves good. Add white fabric, soak over nite or till it is as dark as you want. The alum sets the dye in the fabric and the cream of tarter makes the dye a brighter color and softens the fabric." Believe me, I dyed everything I had blue. I had blue socks, blue underwear, and any scraps of fabric my mother would give me. That was the only recipe I loved, and I felt much better about Aunt Bett's massacre of my beloved Spiderwort. Besides, Aunt Bett was magic, and if she could use a flower to turn water blue, that was good enough for me. But I never did eat any Spiderwort. All photos are from Plant Files. Special thanks to Dave, Zanymuse, Todd Boland, 9kittymom, and frostweed for the use of their lovely Spiderwort pictures.
 | I am a retired high school art and humanities teacher. I grew up in the Appalachian mountains of southeast KY and now I live with my two rescued cats, Jazz and Daisy, in far western KY. I love daylilies and perennials, and thanks to my DG friends this year I am adding roses to my gardens.
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Subject: your story is such a delightful treat!
Posted by florida_newbie (from Harold, FL) on April 25, 2008 at 5:55 PM:I grew up on the prairie of central Arkansas and I've always known and loved this plant as snakewort. Supposedly the slimy stuff was snakespit.
I'm told that I started gardening at age 3 when I transplanting this and wood violets so my "Mom would have pretty flowers".... Imagine my surprise to find it growing lavishly when I came to Florida...and that I could buy it and in different colors now....the blue will always be the BEST...thanks for a great story.... ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 25, 2008 at 5:57 PM: Thank you, glad you enjoyed it, also glad you still love the the blue! ...
Subject: blue dye
Posted by rubyw (from Crozet, VA) on April 15, 2008 at 3:50 AM:What a beautiful color the blue is. Almost makes me want to dye something blue. Another enjoyable story Sharon. Thank you so much for sharing.
Ruby ...
Subject: etymology of "spiderwort."
Posted by Dollykat (from Lucasville, OH) on April 14, 2008 at 2:44 PM:I've never grown spiderwort, but your story piqued my curiosity about the plant and its name. I already knew that "wort" is an old English word meaning "plant," but I found three different explanations for the "spider" part of the name. One source claimed the stringy sap resembles a spider's web. A second source said the plant, when viewed from above, vaguely looks like the shape of a spider, and a third source claimed the plant was once believed to be a medicine for treatment of a spider's bite. Another source claimed that spiderwort may be useful to detect radiation poisoning. I wonder what Aunt Bett would think of that, although the theory is yet unproven. The name "tradescantia" is for John Tradescant, gardener to King Charles I of England (ruled 1606-1625). Tradescant imported the seeds of the New World native plant to England, where it remains a popular garden plant. Thanks for your article, Sharon. It helped me to learn some new things today. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 14, 2008 at 5:44 PM: And me too, thank you! ...
Subject: Darling Aunt Bett
Posted by Bettypauze (from Victoria Harbour, ON) on April 10, 2008 at 10:47 AM:Shar, can just see you on the hunt for anything you could find to dye..love the spiderwort as well...
Your article brought back memories as well, when my beloved grandmother had her mom live with us (I was but a child) and our Friday morning outings was a walk up town to the dairy, a glass of cold buttermilk .. lordy I hated that white stuff...but back then you dare not say 'no thank you'..we've come a long way..lol..then darling Great Great Grandmother would have her afternoon 'porter' remember it was brown, thick and ucky...but she thought all the hardships of the week would be made well by her Friday outings..
Thanks once again for sharing.. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 10, 2008 at 11:14 AM: Thank you, Betty.
The best part of remembering and writing about Aunt Bett is the mountain memories. But I also love finding her recipes and directions for the things she did.
I don't like buttermilk either, but I remember that she loved it!
Thanks again. ... Posted by marieortiz (from Tolleson, AZ) on April 10, 2008 at 2:17 PM: Sharran you should right a book on your adventures with Aunt Bett and include the recipes. I promise I would be the first in line to buy one!! ... Posted by leaflady (from Hughesville, MO) on April 11, 2008 at 12:55 AM: I do enjoy the stories. I had never seen spiderwort until after I married Jack. I guess it just didn't grow where my parents lived. Anyway, Jack's mother had another name for it. Snotweed. For the sap of the stems. She loved the plants too but regretted they weren't good cut flowers. I had dug some and moved them to our yard after I fell in love with them. I now have the wild one, a bright pink shorter one, and Ospre(?), a white one with lavender in the center of the bloom. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 11, 2008 at 1:03 AM: Thanks, Leaflady....they are lovely flowers. I have a cluster of the wild ones, too, the pure blues. Also have the pinks and purples, but have never had the white ones. I will be on the look out for them.
I have also heard it called Snotweed, but hated to call such a pretty flower such a yucky name!
Thanks, again. ... Posted by leaflady (from Hughesville, MO) on April 11, 2008 at 9:35 AM: I hate that name too but for years it was the only name I knew for it. There is another white one out now too. Iceburg or something like that I think. It doesn't seem to spread like the others.The bright pink one spreads like wild fire! ... Posted by pirl (from Southold, NY) on April 12, 2008 at 9:13 AM: Another great read about dear Aunt Bett. How old was she when she died, Sharon? ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 12, 2008 at 9:17 AM: She was in her 80's, maybe 85. I need to look in my records before I answer this. I will do just that before I write again! She was born about 1890, died sometime in the early 70's.
Thanks Pirl. ... Posted by pirl (from Southold, NY) on April 12, 2008 at 9:28 AM: You were blessed to have her, Sharon. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 12, 2008 at 12:39 PM: thanks, Pirl. I do know that.
... Posted by adoresaiken (from Clemmons, NC) on April 14, 2008 at 1:41 PM: Sharron,
I love your Aunt Bet srories! We had an "Aunt Min" in our neighborhood when I was a kid. She was the local "medicine man"! She cured all kinds of ills with poultices, and herbs. She wasn't our real Aunt, but that's what everyone called her.
She walked everywhere she went and carried a large walking stick. She always wore an apron and a sun bonnet that tied under her chin. She always had a "dip" of snuff in her mouth! She was a skinny lady that laughed a lot, but very homely and no teeth!
My sister had an infection in her knee when she was about 4 years old (back before penicillin) that the doctor's said was hopeless. Aunt Min came and brought her medical supplies and knowledge to the rescue! My sister recovered completely and never had any trouble with that knee! She is now 73 and can outwalk me!
What wonderful memories your stories bring back! Thank you so much!
Pat ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 14, 2008 at 5:57 PM: I am so glad you enjoy the stories. Aunt Bett was very much like your Aunt Min, except I don't think she ever used snuff. She did wear a bonnet and an apron, though. I have one of her bonnets, the homemade kind.
Glad about your sister too.
Thanks for your words. Makes me feel good. ... Posted by adoresaiken (from Clemmons, NC) on April 15, 2008 at 11:07 AM: Looking forward to more Aunt Bet stories!
Pat ... Posted by lizrainey (from San Mateo, CA) on April 15, 2008 at 9:39 PM: shar, another masterpeice!! just love your writtings, aunt bett would be so proud
cant wait for the next chapter thank you my friend ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 15, 2008 at 9:47 PM: How sweet, Liz, thank you. ...
Subject: Loved it! Another great adventure!
Posted by Horseshoe (from Efland, NC) on April 10, 2008 at 1:52 AM:Thanks, Sharon.
Now you have me wanting to dye things blue (my favorite color!).
Have never eaten spiderwort but I'll give it a try, and let you know if you've missed out on a special delicacy all these years!
Shoe ... Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on April 10, 2008 at 6:01 AM: Thanks for another lovely chapter!! ... Posted by pixie62560 (from South China, ME) on April 10, 2008 at 7:24 AM: One of my favorite flowers too but not sure I want to eat it! Another great story, your so lucky to have had an Aunt Bett!! ... Posted by catmad (from Pelzer, SC) on April 10, 2008 at 8:14 AM: My first Spiderwort bloomed yesterday, and I had been waiting for it:). They are my favorites, too, and seem to be spreading, much to my delight! Thanks for a great story, but I don't think I can eat them, either. Shoe, will you let us know when you massacre, uh, I mean Harvest them? ... Posted by darius (from Appalachian Mtns, VA) on April 10, 2008 at 8:37 AM: I join the list of those who love spiderwort, and have reservations about eating it! I, too, shall wait for Shoe's proclamation, Aunt Bett notwithstanding. :) ... Posted by FlowrLady (from Olive Branch, MS) on April 10, 2008 at 10:07 AM: My spiderwort has begun blooming. It is one of my favorite flowers. Thanks for the series of articles. ... Posted by Soulja (from Louisville, KY) on April 10, 2008 at 10:16 AM: DEEELIGHTFUL!!! Aunt Bett, Medicine Woman. No wonder you turned out so good.
You really do describe that landscape so I can be there too Shar. The Eastern Ky Hills & Mountains must have been a magical place to grow up. And some people are just born gardening. You are lucky to be able to go back there in such a cerebral and visceral way, and we're lucky to accompany you. I'm sweating in my Asphidity bag right now!
Whew, there I just took the dern thing off!!!
... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 10, 2008 at 11:22 AM: Shoe, hello! I am so glad you enjoyed the "blue" part of the article. Just be careful what you dye! I want to see pictures!
Dutchlady and Pixie....still my favorite flower, too and I have several clusters in my gardens, but no....I would not ever eat them.
Margo and flowrlady, I am jealous because you have blooms. I think I still have a couple weeks to go, but mine is really tall and strong already.
You can take the asphidity bag off now, Soulja....it is only for when you need protection from the mountain creatures that you might need it. I doubt any have invaded Louisville. But do keep it close by, cause you never know.
So glad you all are enjoying following Aunt Bett and me. I really do miss those crazy mountain journeys. I have read and written so much about her recently that I can hear her voice in my mind when I take a look at a new plant that has just popped out of the ground.
Thank you for your kind and fun words. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 10, 2008 at 11:29 AM: Darius, I think of you when writing these articles because you are living right now in the mountains that I love, and not too far from where I wandered those years ago. And you are probably familiar with all the flowers that grew along those ridges. Thank you for reading the articles, I do appreciate your comments. ... Posted by nanny_56 (from Putnam County, IN) on April 10, 2008 at 12:07 PM: You make meI wish I would have had an Aunt Bett! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 10, 2008 at 12:21 PM: If I could I would share mine with you, Nanny. I wish I still had her around, too. I wonder what she would have thought of this world today? ... Posted by tucsonjill (from Tucson, AZ) on April 10, 2008 at 1:06 PM: Thanks for sharing Aunt Bett with us again! Always enjoy your stories! ... Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on April 10, 2008 at 7:07 PM: Another lovely story. Aunt Bett's legacy continues to grow. ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on April 10, 2008 at 7:10 PM: Another nice memory, Sharon. Thanks again! The dying looks like fun for kids. ... Posted by vossner (from Richmond, TX) on April 10, 2008 at 7:12 PM: lovely! ... Posted by podster (from Deep East Texas, TX) on April 10, 2008 at 10:35 PM: Great fun! Thanks too for the recipes. I love the spiderworts and would sample them if someone else did the cooking. Believe I'll pass on the spiderwebs tho...
Glad to enjoy another Aunt Bett encounter, thank you! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM: Thank you all so much. So glad you like Aunt Bett. ... Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on April 11, 2008 at 2:45 PM: I enjoyed this one very much, Sharon! My spiderwort comes back every year in NH, and I - like you - could never eat the lovely flowers. They are the most stunning color of blue. Thanks for taking the time to share your memories of Aunt Bett! Every new chapter is a delight! Louise ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 11, 2008 at 3:04 PM: Thank you.
I have the wild spiderwort growing in my yard, too....lovely blue color. I have others as well, but they can't match the blue of the wild ones. ... Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on April 11, 2008 at 3:12 PM: Interesting, Sharon........ I didn't realize that some are wild and others not. I bought mine years ago and it just keeps coming back! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 11, 2008 at 3:50 PM: The wild is very small compared to that which you buy. The flower is a bright blue, and never varies in my experience. That is the way it was in the mountains, and here as well in the western part of the state. I have not researched it, but would guess the ones we buy have been cultivated. They are beautiful too, but slightly different from the ones that Aunt Bett and I gathered. I have more of them than I do of the wild.
Now Bee Balm doesn't change.....except I only ever saw the red growing wild in the mountains. (Previous AB article) Dye can be made from the bee balm flower also. But the plant itself seems to always look the same, in the wild or in the nurseries. ... Posted by Starzz (from Newcastle, ON) on April 11, 2008 at 7:20 PM: I always learn something when I read your stories Sharon. Thanks for the delightful "ahhhh" moments.
You are lucky to have such treasured memories.
I grow spiderwort in my garden too..the cultivated kind.
Cheers,
Carol
... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 11, 2008 at 7:25 PM: Thanks, Carol.....I do appreciate you! ... Posted by adoresaiken (from Clemmons, NC) on April 14, 2008 at 1:46 PM: I have some of the wild spiderwort in my garden. I "rescued" it from the side of a NC mountain road years ago and it spreads like crazy.
Every once in awhile, I have to thin it out or that is all I would have! I can't bear to throw it in the compost, so I give the plants to everyone that will take them!
Pat ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 14, 2008 at 5:45 PM: Nice to know that, and rescuing is how I got my wild spiderwort, too.
I thought it needed a new home.
Thank you, Pat. ... Posted by FlowrLady (from Olive Branch, MS) on April 25, 2008 at 1:46 PM: I have three colors of spiderwort growing at the mailbox. It is so beautiful in the morning. I also got a pink one from Yardbird last week, so I'll now have some pink, too. I love spiderwort. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 25, 2008 at 3:12 PM: Me, too, FlowrLady...thanks. ... Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on April 25, 2008 at 7:49 PM: Mmmmmmmm, pink spiderwort??? Sounds really pretty! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 25, 2008 at 8:01 PM: I haven't seen it in pink, DB, so I would guess it must be new. ... Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on April 25, 2008 at 8:04 PM: I may just have to do a search for some, Sharon. I think the pink would be so pretty mixed in with my lovely shade of blue flowers! I'm looking forward to getting back to the farm to see if mine is peeking through yet. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 25, 2008 at 8:17 PM: It should be, mine is....I am talking about the wild blue....my purple and dark purple ones are huge but not in bloom yet.
FlowrLady, if you get the pink, I would love to see a picture.
DB, you leaving this week??
... Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on April 25, 2008 at 8:33 PM: We're leaving on Wednesday, Sharon. This is my last Friday night here for awhile! Now that we have a security system and a safe here, I'm able to leave with a bit more peace of mind. I'm also leaving the front of the house looking more "lived in" by leaving a wicker chair on the front porch with a very real-looking fake Boston fern. Also, we're leaving a car in the carport, so hopefully we'll fare better this time! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 25, 2008 at 9:25 PM: Good for you! I am anxious to see pictures from your wonderful farmhouse. Safe trip to you......
... Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on April 25, 2008 at 9:30 PM: Thanks very much, Sharon. I'll be buried in garden clean-up for a bit, I'm sure, but it will be nice to be back up on the hill!! Hope you are enjoying your gardens as we speak!! Louise ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 25, 2008 at 9:35 PM: sure am...lots of blooms. AND my first two roses are in bloom. Remember, this is my first year for roses. ... Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on April 25, 2008 at 9:38 PM: I'm hoping mine made it through the winter. I usually cover them with leaves in a cage.....but didn't get to it in the fall. Gulp! Our favorite is a very old one from the 1800s.. That one is very hardy, and loves wood ash from our cook stove. Night night!! ...
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