Potpourri and Rediscovering Yourself

I've been thinking a lot lately of things I used to do years ago.

It all started when a co worker brought in a couple of boxes full of gardening books. Her daughter was downsizing.  The books were free for the taking.

I started to look through them, although I have too many books myself.  Yes, dear reader, nowadays I can agree there is such a thing as too many books.

As I browsed the books, my memory traveled back years.  It went back over 30 years, to a time when I lived in rural Arkansas.  This was before the Internet, smartphones and social media.  And, before my energy levels started to go down.  Before the years where I was helping to take care of my aging mother in law.  Before the years where there weren't enough hours in the day, or when I had a young child and a full time job, or...........

My memory went back to a time when I made potpourri.  A time when I started flowers and herbs from seed. True, I owned 34 acres of land, so I had lots of room for gardens (I had two, an upper garden and a lower garden) and rose bushes.  The climate was warmer than where I live now in upstate New York, and I even had basil reseed itself.  Imagine that.

Now everything is rushed, and I spend hundreds of dollars at local nurseries.  I can't do that for much longer.  I am 66, and retirement is out there somewhere, waiting for me.  (Not yet.  But it is looming).

Today, as we had a break in our rainy weather, I looked around my yard, and also visited a local nursery.  This is the result.

Three scented geraniums - pinewood, strawberry, and rose.

Thyme and Greek Oregano.  Both winterkilled (this last year was not kind to all my plants although some have thrived just a bit too well.)

In my shade yard, I found sweet woodruff blooming, which I had planted many years ago.  On the side of the house, the lilacs are starting to bloom. 

Lemon Balm

There's lemon balm in my yard.  We just replanted rosemary.  This is a plant that must be overwintered indoors, and only one of three plants made it through this winter.

You know what?  I took some of those books home with me.  I am finding time to browse through them.  It's time to return to my roots.

It is my Mother's Day gift to myself.

Also, please join me Wednesday for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, where I might speak more on the topic.