My allergies have been kicking my butt since about mid-week. Highlights included two hours lying wide awake in the middle of the night last night, just trying to breathe. Good times.
So when I dragged myself outta bed this a.m., thanking the Hungry Toddler repeatedly for sleeping ’til 7:30 a.m. [he regularly rises, loudly, between 5:30 and 6 a.m.], heading outside was not the first thing on my mind. In fact, I decided to can our planned trip to the Perennial Plant Society’s annual sale.
By the time we picked up the 7yo at her dad’s, I had perked up a lot. So even though it was late, we took off for the fairgrounds. Now, if you’ve never been to the PPS’s annual sale, I have always said: If you don’t get there at 9 a.m., there’s no point in going. Housed for years at Ellington Agricultural Center, you would have best described the sale as a mob ascending the hill in South Nashville at 8:45 a.m., and returning triumphant downhill by 9:30, having picked the place clean.
Last year was the first year at the fairgrounds, and the larger building there helps a lot. And the parking is easier. But most of all, I’m convinced what helped today was the early-morning rain. When we arrived at 10:45, there were still plants a-plenty. We zipped through, picked up 7 quarts of various stuff [pink verbena, purple salvia, the most gorgeous, big rosemary plant, couple other things] and zipped out. No crowd, no waiting, nada. The cashier told us it had been steady all morning, but no riots.
We also stopped by the Turnip Truck for a few grocery items, and to shop at the Eaton’s Creek tent in the parking lot: They offered heirloom tomatoes, basil and a few flowers. So we got 8 tomato plants, 4 basil and 4 verbena [purple and white].
We then spent the afternoon re-digging the vegetable garden. Believe it or not, a 7-year-old is a big help at that. And HT even chipped in, picking up all the old plant tags from last year. [The perfect job for him: He loves to pick up trash. L.O.V.E.S. it.]
I kept marveling all afternoon — no achy knees, no tiredness, no allergies. I took the 7yo back to her dad’s at 4 p.m. [Both kids had a bath first. We were all filthy!!] and upon our return back home, I hit the wall.
Allergies. Exhaustion. Cranky. Geez Louise!! It’s a good kinda tired of course, but I’m now reconsidering my Home Depot plans for tomorrow. Of course, time’s a-wastin’ when it comes to the garden….so I bet I end up going.
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Man, when I go to plant my first veggie garden next year, I’m so going to have you come over to guide me.
By the way, is it just me or does anyone else immediately think of The Parent Trap when they see the word ‘verbena’?