Her birthday was this week, and, as a special friend I don’t often get to see, she’s on my mind.
Wednesday, I put on a cute skirt that Aunt Lori took from her closet and handed me the last I visited her in Houston. We have that kind of a relationship.
Then, even though I hadn’t slept well the night before and none of my “compadres” could come along, I struck out for the Jackson (Mississippi) Garden Club’s Annual Home & Garden Tour.
I’d registered online the night before, but no careful re-reading of EVERY word on the website would reveal where I should report for the first tour! The very Southern styled invitation offered the dates, the times, and the vague location of “North Jackson.”
I took a chance and reached out to my friend Susan, a local master gardener. Of course, she had all the info! In fact, she was almost done with her shift as a busy volunteer, and I’d probably miss seeing her. I did.
There were four gardens in the heart of North Jackson that sported swoon-worthy fresh flower arrangements in every conceivable container, azaleas galore, and brand-new raised gardens. I hoped they didn’t mind, but I couldn’t resist the urge to try to capture it all with my iPhone.
The last of the four houses was not reachable by the golf carts zipping visitors from place to place; it was on the other side of I-55 and required taking my own car. The blond gardener- turned-golf-cart-chauffeur reassured me that it was worth the trip.
The outside of the house was tidy, simple, and had a nice deep front yard of mostly grass and shade trees. It was the inside of the house that captured my imagination. I learned that the owner is an artist, and her collection of art, as well as her blue library, sage green friendship door, and cozy kitchen, captivated my attention. It seemed like I must be walking into the home of an old friend. Her style speaks to me!
As I took it all in, I imagined Aunt Lori and how she would admired the flowers and the homes. I thought I could hear her say in her no-nonsense voice, “You could do that, Nance.”
I left the tours feeling inspired. It probably helped that I’d been in a natural setting for several hours in 72 degree weather!
I drove to Home Depot and picked up a huge bag of Citrus Potting Soil that I’ve been neglecting to buy and headed home. I put my work apron on over my cute green skirt, tugged the bag to the back porch, and got to work on transplanting the Meyer Lemon Tree that Aunt Lori sent me a few years ago. It’s been in need of a new pot for at least a year.
It’s true that I may not be ready to add my yard to the Garden Tour, but my own new raised beds that I built in February and my newly transplanted Meyer Lemon tree brought me a great deal of joy this week. Happy birthday, Aunt Lori!
