Decoration Day

Where I come from, Memorial Day was always referred to as Decoration Day, meaning everyone decorated the graves.
We live in an historical area where there are five of old cemeteries (Burying Grounds). On Monday, we will drive to several and walk around, looking at the graves with flags. Our area in New England has revolutionary war graves, Civil War, Spanish American, World Wars I and II, Korea, the Gulf War and now Iraq. Every year shortly before Memorial Day, a veterans organization provides fresh American flags for the veterans. Boston is the only city I know of that has lots of burying grounds occupying prime real estate in downtown areas.

In college, I had a history professor who gave a series of lectures about the art on the Puritan grave stones. Now when I see the deaths head, the weeping willow and "Memento Mori" I remember him, and how thankful I am to have had such a scholar teaching us this very rarified subject about New England. Little did I ever think that I would be able to walk in these graveyards at will. Life is full of surprises.

The orange rhododendrum has bloomed just in time for the weekend. Lots of exciting stuff going on in the garden, with everything planted, last years rock garden in bloom, and buds aplenty. The bullfrogs sing a bass chorus from the slough, and a young red squirrel scampers in the woods. The cat watched a song sparrow with great interest (from indoors) today. If April is the cruellest month, then May redeems April and the entire winter months.

In the vegetable patch, the spinach has sprouted (took it long enough) amidst great masses of dill and cilantro which reseeded themselves. I am using the thinnings in salads. Waste not, and all that jazz, plus they taste good. Some creeping thyme has also appeared. I have big sturdy oregano and sage plants. We bought a hummingbird feeder hoping that the little guy (or girl) who visited regularly last summer will come again this year. It loved the hot pink petunias.

Onward encore,
Let's hear it for hot pink petunias.

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