Golden Grain Farm has three slim oak trees lining the west edge of the front lawn. Beneath them were several peony bushes and two clumps of tulips, and I added shade-loving plants from my flowerbeds here: ostrich ferns, hostas, a bleeding heart. I also stuck in a few pale yellow petunias.

This photo doesn't display much but the trees. I shall try to do better in future.

A little wooden sign that says "Lonely Little Petunia" could be put into the onion patch with a petunia next spring. Remember that song?

"I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch
An onion patch, in the onion patch
I'm a lonely little petunia in the onion patch
And all I do is cry all day!"

Have I got the words right?

It is another gorgeous day. Rain was called for yesterday and there were clouds and thunder, but nothing came of it. I went to the other house and watered part of the garden last night, not trusting the forecast. Good thing. The wind has been unrelenting this spring and the rain sporadic, and my flowers need all the help they can get.

To deep-water the entire flower garden, it would take about four hours. I am limiting myself to one hour per evening or early morning.

Usually I use a sprinkler, but sometimes I stand with hose in hand and give the flowers a morning spray. Then I think of Grandpa, whom I remember misting the hollyhocks outside the kitchen window at their house in Margo.

I think of him while hoeing, too, because one summer when I lived in town and had a little vegetable garden, Grandpa used to come over and hoe out the weeds for me sometimes.

Oh, life was good with him for a grandpa. I had two wonderful grandfathers, both of whom were very, very loving and generous to me. Is it any wonder I expect the men in my life to spoil me rotten?