Zone 9

 

 

I never dreamed of growing gardenias in our zone, until I saw the neighbor's blooming patio pots and jealousy reared its ugly head. 

Our neighbors are frequently down in Portland visiting their daughter, and they brought me a gardenia (above) from Versailles Garden which looks like a fancy place. What a nice gift.  

Typical gardenias need sweltering heat to bloom, but there are several newish varieties bred for the coastal Northwest, including "Gardenia jasminoides Frostproof" (above) which is considered one of the best for our cool and damp climate.

The smell is so evocative. One sniff and I'm 15 again, wearing the corsage on this eyelet dress I sewed myself.  Mom took the picture before my prom date arrived with the box. Now kids just meet up, but boys always came to the front door in those days.   

 

A gardenia was an old fashioned choice for him in the 1960's, when orchids were considered exotic and special. But that corsage was unforgettable because of the scent. 

The weekend is here with the annual Summer Fest going on at the West Seattle Junction. Every year it gets bigger, louder, and more crowded. I walked down there this morning to search for sidewalk sale bargains as usual, but there isn't much of interest for us anymore. Especially not the food. 

Well. The family is now in Rome sightseeing until Tuesday, when they fly back to Seattle on the Alaska Airlines non-stop flight. Nice. What an incredible number of experiences they've packed into 3 weeks. But I'm sensing they're ready to be back on the Carlton farm.