Big Garden Plans

And then life happens

I had big plans for this week and last. I had a speaking engagement (to promote the new book) back in New Orleans, for the Junior League at one of my favorite NO bookstores, Garden District Books. First of all, I wondered, should I wear pearls?

Podocarpus ‘Mood Ring’ in the New Orleans garden, part of my new strategy to rely on interesting evergreens that can fend on their own with an absentee (half the year) gardener.

In Minnesota, I can show up to speak in my puffy vest and boots, with dirt under my fingernails and get credit for authenticity, but this was different. And then a few days before my flight I got sick, like really sick. But the urgent care in Mpls said, just a virus, soldier on.

I’m a nervous flyer, so of course, my seat was broken. Two guys in hi-vis came and “fixed” it, sort of, and another staff person advised me, “Please understand we made a concerted effort,” and joked about giving me extra Biscoff. As we landed my ears got weirdly painful and the world went silent except for a whooshing windstorm effect. A week later I still have a bit of echo.

Then my lungs started squeaking between the coughing and snorting and fatigue. The NO urgent care had mercy on me with a scrip for antibiotics. Several hundred cough drops later I managed to pull off my presentation, did they see my sway once or twice?The ladies showed up in gorgeous sundresses, drank lots of wine, were gracious in that only in New Orleans way, and bought books, and told me wonderful stories of their own gardens.

Signing books at Garden District Books in New Orleans

I had planned on returning to Minneapolis just in time to plant my tomatoes, basil and peppers, and all the other stuff before they outgrew their seedling pods. But now my daughter has a medical procedure that would be endured better with her mama present. So, I’ll be here in NO for a while longer.

My husband, who doesn’t care for gardening, is now in charge of hardening off the rest of my seedlings, they are now taller than the grow lights and desperately need planting. He may end up planting some of them, so I have drawn a diagram of what’s already sowed and planted and where future things should go. It is not the first time he has had to step in so I know he’ll do his best.

I’m still a little weak with a lingering cough. I’d say I plan to be back at it on June 1, but let’s just leave it at, some time soon.