Today is Monday, April 25th, 2005; Karen's Korner #531
My walking partner, Margaret, asked a couple of weeks ago, "When is a good time to start planting flowers?" Probably wanted to know as her son is graduating toward the end of May. Just as well make their farm home look nice. Why have little flowers when you can have bigger, nicer ones!
"Can't plant them until at least my birthday, May 3," I said.
I told Margaret that because I had done it wrong a few years ago. What would it hurt to put a few starter plants out around our house? I put some in some crocks under our overhang and some right next to our basement door. It was at the end of April, nearly the first of May.
The weather changed from really warm to really chilly. The petunias stayed okay, but the marigolds turned black. It didn't kill them, but they looked terrible. They started to re-green in the centers. I replanted them away from the house, so I didn't have to look at them try to catch up all spring.
This year's weather had been really nice. It was even hot a week ago. But the last few days were pretty chilly here in north central Iowa. Looks like my advice and experience were right!
The gal at the greenhouse said sometimes it is even a little early until the 10th of May. My sister who lives in Rochester, MInnesota said it is better for them to wait until at least the 10th each year because they are that much farther north. "They don't grow much until the 15th of May here any way," she said.
Some of our knowledge and wisdom comes from life experiences. I know some things because I have done it wrong in the past. Some things I know because someone who is smarter than me with more experience knows the answer. The greenhouse lady knows some things and I choose to listen to her.
And then there is God who created all things and knows how all things work. He wrote it down in the "Owner's Manual" for us to read and study, to learn how the universe operates. He tells us how to develop the best relationships, how to live, how to love, what gives us joy and what doesn't, and about life in a new realm called "heaven and eternity". He knows. We don't.
One more place to get pieces of helpful advice for enjoying the trip through life.
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