I find many people writing on Substack with stories similar to mine, regardless of their "profiles." My Most Important Plant is Siberian Iris, followed closely by Basil. Twenty years ago, a colleague donated a dozen of her hybrid Siberian Iris to a silent auction taking place at the annual Springfest fundraiser for the private school our boys attended. I won them, planted them in one of my flower gardens at my home some 40 miles northwest of Albany, NY (Zone 5-ish) and they thrived. My success with Basil long precedes the Iris. I have had Basil in my garden, either from seeds or starts, for nearly 50 years. Mostly I make pesto, which flavors my homemade spaghetti sauce, but we also regularly use it fresh in salads and main dishes. On a different note, I relate deeply to your grief and pain: we lost our first child 38 years ago when she was 5 and her sister was just a few weeks old.
Lol “they’re goth like that.” Last season, my most important plant was a sunflower too. My neighbors and friends so enjoyed the giant blooms that they sent purple varieties I’m excited to plant this spring.
This season, I went wild with bulbs and am watching my tulips come up with sheer delight. Only a few days from the first blooms now!!!
Purple sunflowers? So cool! What are the varieties called? Also, I too am in the Final Tulip Countdown. That + birdwatching = it’s gotten extremely “my grandma circa 1994” over here for me.
Apr 4, 2023·edited Apr 4, 2023Liked by Ryan Rose Weaver
I’m not sure! It’s a mix from SeedSavers and doesn’t have details. Haha seriously. I saw a meme recently that said, “one day I was young, the next I was feeding a tufted titmouse.” 🙋♀️
I find many people writing on Substack with stories similar to mine, regardless of their "profiles." My Most Important Plant is Siberian Iris, followed closely by Basil. Twenty years ago, a colleague donated a dozen of her hybrid Siberian Iris to a silent auction taking place at the annual Springfest fundraiser for the private school our boys attended. I won them, planted them in one of my flower gardens at my home some 40 miles northwest of Albany, NY (Zone 5-ish) and they thrived. My success with Basil long precedes the Iris. I have had Basil in my garden, either from seeds or starts, for nearly 50 years. Mostly I make pesto, which flavors my homemade spaghetti sauce, but we also regularly use it fresh in salads and main dishes. On a different note, I relate deeply to your grief and pain: we lost our first child 38 years ago when she was 5 and her sister was just a few weeks old.
Vicki -- I’m so glad and so honored that you found me here. I share your love for irises and basil. Resilience and deliciousness; how could we resist?
I am also holding you and your family in my heart regarding your loss. Thank you for sharing that. What was her name? Sending so much love to you.
Lol “they’re goth like that.” Last season, my most important plant was a sunflower too. My neighbors and friends so enjoyed the giant blooms that they sent purple varieties I’m excited to plant this spring.
This season, I went wild with bulbs and am watching my tulips come up with sheer delight. Only a few days from the first blooms now!!!
Purple sunflowers? So cool! What are the varieties called? Also, I too am in the Final Tulip Countdown. That + birdwatching = it’s gotten extremely “my grandma circa 1994” over here for me.
I’m not sure! It’s a mix from SeedSavers and doesn’t have details. Haha seriously. I saw a meme recently that said, “one day I was young, the next I was feeding a tufted titmouse.” 🙋♀️
https://www.seedsavers.org/sunflower-mixture-sunflower