Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Free Gardener


Jeanne at Backyard Neighbor took this picture of forsythias that are now in bloom all over the mountainside where she lives. The blooms are so bright and cheerful in her cobalt blue container.

My mom always loved to see the forsythias bloom. I married at an early age (17) and never paid much attention to outdoor things. In Florida, we can't grow forsythias. Although each spring my mom would write about the crocuses and forsythias blooming at her home in Maryland, all I could remember was some purple and some yellow. 





Once, when I was visiting her, I noticed a bush that was nothing more than ugly sticks. It had sprawled over Mama's walkway and brushed against my legs.  It looked even worse than this one below. There was no yellow at all  on Mama's ugly bush. See how it spawls all over the place?


As a favor, for a surprise, I trimmed her bush back--waaay back. I cut off every single stick until it was about 12" high. It took a chunk of time; I worked hard on that ugly thing. Later, she told me that her ugly bush of sticks was her prized forsythia bush! It had been full of buds, and she was looking forward to a particularly beautiful spring. 

Mama's forsythias did not bloom at all that year and not so nicely the following year, either. In fact, she moved before she ever saw it come back to its former glory. She was a little miffed at me!

I work for free. Would you like for me to come do some pruning at your place?

36 comments:

gin said...

that is a funny story. I'm sure your mom finally forgave you. But, no thanks, I don't need your help. I do enough damage on my own with my yard. With you and me at the helm, my poor flowers would have no chance at all...haha

Judith said...

Is that what is's called 'forsythias' - thank you for the information. I have one blooming in my back garden :) the stems look pretty in a vase with daffodiles. Judith

April said...

Oh, Sally...I'm sorry, but your story made me laugh! I do have to agree with you that forsythia bushes aren't the most attractive looking things when they're not in full bloom...my husband detests them! I've been known to go a little "scissor happy" on some of our shrubs, too! lol!

Anonymous said...

Oh -- poor bush! Sounds like something I might have done, LOL! I could have used your services several years ago when we fought kudzu in the back yard constantly.

Re your comment about commenting on comments... :-)...sometimes I respond on the person's blog or in e-mail, sometimes on my blog, sometimes not at all. It just depends on the post and the person and the comments and whatever I feel inclined to do at the moment. But most often I do respond on their blog or in e-mail so I'll be sure they'll see it. Sometimes I respond in the comments on my blog so things make sense for future readers -- though I know I don't always read all the comments on a post either. Just depends on the nature of the post -- and my available time for the day.

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

funny story! I have cut a few things back too much before.... live and learn! You can come visit my yard any time...with or without pruning shears...

Susan

Teresa said...

Awwwww... that is too funny. Well, you had good intentions.

xinex said...

Funny story, Sally! LOL! But it's the intention that counts!...Christine

Bridget said...

ROFL, thanks for the offer but I have a hard enough time as it is. I hope your mom panted a new bush when she moved, they are beautiful when in bloom. It's the thought that counts! : O

Bo said...

Hi Sally...My DH & I go around & around about my snippin' & snappin' and yankin' & pullin' anything that is sprawly, gangly or just downright ugly...I almost raked his radishes out of his veggie garden because they looked like weeds sprouting even though they were in a neat little row...
oops! ;-) Bo

The blog of MBW said...

Thanks but no thanks. ? :-) What a vibrant yellow flowers. That was so funny. I'm the same way too-not real good with plants.

tammy said...

I was outside doing a lot of pruning yesterday. Maybe I should've asked your opinion first?

Darlene said...

Oh NO...but what a funny story! That bush is absolutely beautiful in the photo where it is in bloom.

♥ Kathy said...

aww I'm sure she forgave you. It would be hard to know what it was without a lot of gardening experience..I sure wouldn't have known!

Libby's Library said...

I don't have a green thumb either!

Knitty said...

Great story. Hubby asks me when is the right time to prune bushes and plants that we have. He knows more about this stuff than I do which is next to nothing. Thank goodness for the internet, although there is sometimes conflicting opinions.

The forsythia looks great in the blue container. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Sally, thanks for posting my forsythia. I was surprised. Your story gave me the biggest laugh at your poor mom's expense. My mom would have been more than miffed. Thanks for a fun post. I can do without your FREE labor. LOL.

Hugs...Jeanne

Anonymous said...

That's a funny story, it is such a gorgeous bush.. love the color !
Diane

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh your poor Mama, Sally... I'm sure she was MORE than miffed at you. Forsythias--like so many bushes in winter--are NOT pretty, until they bloom. I too grew up with Forsythias in my yard and I have two in our yard here. Gorgeous!!!!

Don't think I'll take you up on your pruning skills... ha ha
Hugs,
Betsy

~♥~ Monica S said...

Hahaha Sally .. oh.. you must've felt so bad for her..
I have two of those too.. in my garden.. they look lovely when spring finally comes.. and after that they turn green :-)

HAve a great day Sally!
Monica

Musings of A Minister said...

Beautiful bush. Poor mama. Funny, funny, funny. Have a good day.

Sassy said...

Bless your ♥! Just trying to help....and I don't think I ever came back to your blog and thanked you for taking time to walk me through the linking process....that was so kind of you and I so appreciate your time and your kindness...you don't know how many people I asked and you were the first to help an illiterate not so savvy computer stupido...thank you again...I'm learning slowly...but it really helps when someone stretshes forth a helping hand and you did!!!!! Thanks again...

Tootsie said...

I bet it looks amazing now!!!
sorry she didn't get to see the fruits of your hard work!
I do love those!
thanks for the visit..and the story today!

Anonymous said...

Sally I thought you had a green thumb??? lol
Well I have to tell you, the snow is nearly melted around here, and I think I spotted a little green thing trying to pop out of the ground. It might be my crocuses or my tulips...can't tell.
Maybe I can share a little nubby for the next Outdoor Wed.
Have a good one
Love Claudie
xo

Anonymous said...

Oh Sally I can just imagine your mom walking outside and seeing her beautiful bush all trimmed down to nothing. It reminds me of the time my friend Bobby and I cut down our neighbors prize rose bushes to bring flowers to our mother's. The things we do without really knowing LOL

Picket said...

Oh Sally..bless your heart..I know your heart must have sank when you found out it was her prize bush! But I'm sure she knew you meant well...I had a beautiful little Bleeding Heart that I had tried to get to live for two years..finally one Spring I saw the first signs of life on it...oh I was so happy...a few days later I went out to check on it and it was gone!!!! I ran back around the house and told Bill something happened to my plant...I took him around and showed him where it use to be and he turned white as a ghost...he said' Oh hon...I thought that was a weed and I pulled it up!!!! lol lol

Yes me & sister was out shopping and we went in the Dollar store and we both pointed and said it at the same time..."There's Sally's egg!!!!" It was a good laugh girl...one of those that just makes you smile because it reminds you of your blogging friends! Just tell me what you want from Hobby Lobby & I'll go get it for you girl & you better hurry and get your little birdie shakers....our Target only has a few left!

Debbie J said...

I have an old fashioned rose bush that blooms only in May on "old" wood. I think my dh has been pruning it back for me too. So I was having very few roses. I asked him not to do that this year! Maybe we'll have a few roses.

Your pruning story was funny.

Debbie J.

imjacobsmom said...

Sally, I'm sorry, but this is funny. I'm sure your Mom knew that you meant well. WE have a few of those bushes in our yard, but we are a bit behind up here in zone 4! Hope you are having a good week! ~ Robyn

Cottage Rose said...

Oh Sally that was a wonderful story, you put a huge smile on my face. lol

Hugs;
Alaura

Dixie said...

Sally... that was so funny (in a sad sort of way)LOL.. We're in the midst of a 2-year drought... and I've got a non-producing hayfield out back that could use some trimming... feel free to come on over...

A few years back I passed a field full of wildflowers that seemed to stretch for acres... on the fence was a sign that read "God is my gardener"... wish I had taken a photo of that one...

hugs and blessings... Dixie

Leedra said...

They do bloom on the old wood, so that is why they didn't bloom that year, and not great the next year. You have a wonderful photo of a beautiful forsythia. I have 2 little ones, waiting on the beauty, someday.

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Unknown said...

Cute story Sally! Sounds like something my husband might do. I have to keep an eye on him!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

LOL! We must be leading parallel lives, Sally! That's exactly what I would have done. :-)

XO,

Sheila

Killlashandra said...

Ah your gardening skills remind me of my own. We try to do the right thing but the brown thumb just gets in the way sometimes. :)

Susan B said...

Oh!! It was nice of you to try and help your mom that way. I'm not a gardener, my husband takes care of that for us. It was a funny story though!

Neabear said...

Oh my goodness!! My brother has trimmed things of my mother's too far back. She has to be really explicit in what she wants him to do or he will overdo. OH well!

Tea said...

The yellow flowers are beautiful. That vase really gets my eye. Blue is my favorite color. It was also my mother's favorite color.