THE PORCH

 I just couldn't wait any longer. The weather's stable. The flowers are  sitting patiently in their flats. More patient than I am.  I lined them up  to have a look.Checked the dirt in the pots. Lovely, it even has worms squiggling about in the grainy depths.  Counted the begonias. It was time......

 The porch. A gathering place. A place to sit. And write. Or have a snooze. If you are a cat. Penguin was there before the flowers went in. He didn't stay to see the dirt fly.

 The flats were ready. Waiting.

 Even Cordelia sat in her window in the greenhouse. The anticipation mounting. The dirt will be flying.  She knew.

 Spencer and Smokey also knew to stay well away from the hub and bub.   They watched Cordelia, watching them, watching Penguin on the Porch.

 Up till today, the greenhouse has been a collecting point for as many flats as I could cram inside. I bought them one by one, little by little. And now it's time. Knee pads, trowel, hat, gloves, buckets, fertilizer.......

 Baskets stuffed with Tuber Begonias. They will get big and lovely and last and last till October in the shade. The porch will look friendly again. Not empty , like it does all winter, as if it were a black and white photograph. Now it will be in colour.And Lobelia, with Impatiens added; not one of my favourites. But  inexpensive and they spread. And I loved the name of the variety I found: "Super Elfin Lipstick". How could anyone pass that by? The dirt loved it.

The little pots from the flats were flying around, as they were tossed into the recycling bucket. Smokey was wary of all the flying plastic pots. They weren't birds, he thought, I'm sure. The posts were stuffed  not only Begonias, but sweet peas. Sounds crazy, I know. Sweet peas are meant for sun, but I've found  they grow REALLY well on the porch, or in other shady areas, as long as it is warm, and protected.

 And Fuschias. So many varieties: Display,La Campanella,Dollar Princess,Millenium,Dark Eyes,Miss California, Blue Eyes, Swing Time, and Ringwood Market. Who would think that fuschias have so many names. So easy to grow in a  moist, partial shady spot. 

 And then the bench was empty . Till tomorrow. Till the next batch will be placed out to plant. But not on the porch. There are other pots to plant. Other places where dirt is bare and just scream for flowers . I must have dirt. More and more of it to plant. The porch is ready. The stage is set. The Dirt is calling......