Midday yesterday, I was out looking at the flowers and ruminating on the market. As the title implies, the garden is good, the market is, while maybe not evil, it could certainly be a bit nicer.
We are all working hard, putting buyers and sellers together, and some things just aren't working out. Either because the sales are falling through due to unrealistic expectations at the home inspection, or the mortgage companies just not being able to perform the magic they promised us.
I love to walk around my garden and I even talk to the flowers most days. Eccentric? You betcha! Usually just a hello you guys, or a touch of a petal. My garden makes me happy and yesterday, I sat by the pool and was mesmerized by the butterflies flitting from one flower to another, the birds landing here and there, my favorite little yellow finches landing right on the sunflowers. Before I realized it, 30 minutes had gone by. It was a lovely way to take a break from the real world of work, worry, Mike's leaving for college, potty training the new baby dog JJ, my 5 pound weight gain, etc.
Almost every single flower, shrub and most of the trees were planted by yours truly. I was born and raised in a row home in South Philadelphia, and my husband still marvels that a city girl could have such a green thumb. Looking at my flowers everyday makes me very happy and I love to take time out to just enjoy them.
Crape myrtles are a favorite of mine. They bloom in East Goshen through most of July and August and they are so pretty.
Black eyed Susans are another favorite. These chirpy little flowers just multiply like crazy and I don't really have to do much to keep them happy. Sort like my new puppy. JJ is very in the moment. Whatever he is doing, he's happy doing it. Sadly, he is very easily distracted. If he takes 10 minutes to find just the right potty spot and is ready to go, my bad luck if a butterfly flits by. He's off and it's another 10 minutes to potty time. I'm not getting very much other stuff done but he is a joy and I am loving it.
If you look very closely at the bottom of this picture you'll see Max's Marigolds. When Max was in Kindergarten, he brought me home one little marigold in a Styrofoam coffee cup. I nursed that little baby through the summer, and in the fall, I took the seeds in for the winter. The next spring, I sprinkled them on the mulch and I had marigolds everywhere. Max is now going into 6th grade. I have continued to take in his marigold seeds and sprinkle them every April and I have them everywhere. Some of my neighbors also have them. A client who moved to Virginia gets seeds in the mail from me and he has them down there. Max's marigolds make me happy with remembrance of him as a small boy and are a constant reminder of what a fine young man he is growing up to be.
If you find yourself in East Goshen, Chester County, give me a call. I can give you a tour of the local housing market as well as a tour of my garden. Everyone is welcome!
Susan C. Mangigian
1450 E. Boot Road, Suite 600-A,West Chester, PA 19380
610-719-1700 main office, 610-299-6237 cell
Moving? I can help!
Susan, from your pictures I see you are a master gardener. Gardening is such a peaceful task and from your lovely photos it gives you much serenity. We have three Crepe Myrtles in our yard and Marigolds too. Your Black Eyed Susans are gorgeous and I love your Welcome sign. The Earth Laughs in Flowers and I am so glad you talk to them. Trust me you are not weird in this area, but kind.
What a wonderful garden!
Susan Darlin' You have a marvelous garden. You might be a city girl, but you've got the makings of a gardener extraordinaire! Our poor flowers have been beaten to death by the rain this year.
While I am not one to tend to flowers, I always appreciate the beauty. I love seeing what a properly nurtured garden looks like in the hands of one who has the knack and temperament for it. It reminds me that there is hope for the hopeless, and much neglect that needs pruning. Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures, Susan. You have a talent.
BTW Susan, I know sunflowers which we have a lot around here with our heat, and THAT is one gorgeous sunflower you've got going there. They're so huge too, aren't they? The grand daddy of the flowers!!
What a gorgeous garden you have! Black-eyed susans are also a favorite of mine! I love the pictures and the stories to go along with them!
Susan,
I was able to relax as I was reading your post, what a joy. Great pics and some awesome thoughts.
Sis,
You have flowers and I have the golf course...that's where I'll go to forget about the stress of work. But I won't be sitting there talking to my clubs anytime soon:))) I used to grow my own roses though...now don't pass this on because it's not the manly thing.
Gary, my kids think I am very weird!! They prefer I don't talk to the flowers when we have company!
Neal, honey, my next door neighbor is quite a manly fellow and his roses are to die for! His wife and my husband could care less about the garden and I always joke that if we were married to each other, we'd have to start knocking on other neighbor's doors to see if we could plant some stuff at their homes since we've run out of room on our own lots!
Don, thanks sweetie!
Pam, you are the best!
Hi Paul! Thank you for the kind words, you are a doll! Isn't it time for one of your deliciously funny posts? Maybe Sunday night so we'll all have something to do?? xxoo
Jesse, I'm sorry to hear about your flowers. Some summers are like that and we work so hard to make it pretty. The Japanese beetles are being a pain this year here. xxoo
Sally, I'm sure my flowers do not hold a candle to the beauty of your home! I've never been but if I do come, you are first person on my list to visit.
In my opinion, there's nothing like the satisfaction you get from beautifying your surroundings. You do have a beautiful garden, made even more special because of the marigolds!
Susan, Your garden is absolutely lovely---I really can't think of a better way to relax and destress; I also love butterflies and have different colored butterfly bushes that I love.
What a beautiful garden! I love sitting in the garden and losing myself as well. Nothing like the satisfaction you get from a blooming garden.
Susan,
I did a survey of what people do outside of our business to maintain sanity... and I was a bit shocked by the answer... The vast majority was Gardening... I guess I just dont have the patience for it... You Obviously do, and are good at it!