08 December 2008

T-minus one week: Rhapsodie en bleu


I realize I've lapsed back into silence of late, but my reason is a pretty good one. This time next week I'll be about six hours from going into the hospital to have surgery to fix a problem once and for all. (Optimistic to a Fault, that's me!) I won't be in hospital for long, which is a good thing because separating me from my iPhone or Nano full of music will make me even crankier than I usually am. However, when I get home I'll be way limited in what I can do. No lifting, etc. Even my laptop I think is slightly over the five pound limit. Definitely won't be going anywhere for at least a week.

So I have to basically finish up some work for the next three or four weeks plus get ready for Christmas before next Sunday night. Which has me singin' the blues. And I don't mean Blue Christmas, either. But you know what? Whatever doesn't get done, is not that important. We're all adults in my family and we'll be together and if my dearly beloved gets press-ganged into doing all the wrapping of stuff other than what he's getting, well, he's a good and patient man and will handle that with his usual aplomb. Especially since we know Simon, Mungus, and the rest of the crew will be glad to help him with such preparations. I'll lay back in bed or on the couch, read blogs and books, and practice getting healed up quickly. So it will all work out.

I'm working on a project that I hope to be able to tell you more about early in the New Year, but I'm just superstitious enough that I won't say more than that. However, I've been looking through some of the gazillion files on my computer and found a folder full of blue-flowered plants, about which I've waxed rhapsodic in the past. They're so beautiful, I thought I'd share them, especially as we sail into the Christmas season where so much is decorated in green, red and white. All of which I love, but it's well known that my favourite flowers in the garden tend to all be blue. 
When we are down in the dumps, we say we have the blues. I've always found that curious because I find blue to be a most soothing and yet uplifting colour. Of course, many of the flowers we call blue are actually lavender, mauve, purple, violet, or other colour related to but not exactly true blue. 


It would be fun to do an all blue planting in my garden, as we actually have quite a number of blue flowered perennials, annuals and shrubs. They don't, however, all bloom at the same time and the rebel gardener in me would have to plop something brilliant orange or fuchsia into the middle to just set it all off. But it would be fun, because I never met a blue flowered plant I didn't love.

I stand corrected. I don't love this, or even like it. To be honest, my first reaction when I saw these painted poinsettias a few years ago was revulsion. Now I just roll my eyes at them the way I do at the black, pink or tangerine coloured fake Christmas trees that some like. Chacun a son gout, of course, but you won't see a blue poinsettia in my house this Christmas.

Nor in my hospital room. Just sayin'.

42 comments:

  1. Our sweet Jodi has to go to the hospital. Well, I hope you get all fixed up. It's not fun being away from the electronics in our lives these days. Loved your blue flowers and yes, even the last one. Looking forward to hearing about your project too.

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  2. Jodi, I love the blues-flowers that is. I ended up with a few new ones in my garden this year and was overjoyed with them.

    I wish you well with your surgery and do be careful during your recovery! I am sure your Christmas will be wonderful whatever gets done. All your family wants is for you to be healthy and happy.

    Happy Holidays!

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  3. Best of luck with your surgery Jodi. This is a good time of the year to get it done. You will be healed up and ready to work in the garden some this spring. At least you will feel better even if you can't do as much this spring as you normally do.

    Love all the blue flowers. I hope the next post is filled with sunny yellow photos that match your humor.

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  4. Hi Jodi, our thoughts will be with you, and your family will be happy to pick up the slack for the holiday festivities. I am sure that their number one concern is your health and happiness, the same as our wished for you.

    Frances

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  5. Jodi, I love your optimism but what gardener isn't optimistic. I hope all goes well for you and you are able to enjoy getting better! Look forward to your project - planning, dreaming is such fun!

    Very best wishes Sylvia (England)

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  6. A tangerine colored Christmas tree? Really? I've never crossed paths with one that color--sometimes living under a rock has its advantages. Jodi, here's wishing you the speediest and fullest recovery possible, and one free of blue poinsettias!;-)
    --Curmudgeon

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  7. Jodi, I hope everything goes well for your surgery and that you will be strong and healthy very soon.

    I agree with you blue flowers are lovely, minus the poinsettia.

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  8. I hope your surgery goes well and you heal quickly!

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  9. Jodi ~ Your blue flowers are uplifting (blue Poinsettia excepted). Best wishes for a speedy recovery and much success with your new project. May you enjoy a warm, family Christmas, as you mend... Deb

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  10. Ick to painted flowers and trees. Nasty things, those. However, your natural blue blooms are exquisite.

    My best to you, Jodi, and hope everything turns out as you wish it. Mind the doctors and let your long-suffering spouse do all the lifting for you.

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  11. Hi Jodi! I'd been missing your posts! Rest up (both before and after your surgery), let yourself be spoiled and lazy, and don't pick up anything heavier than a cup of tea! If you don't know the Crash Test Dummies' fabulous song "I'm So Laid Back," you MUST find it and make it your theme song until you're back up and running (from all those blue poinsettias--agh!!!).

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  12. all the best, jodi. hope all goes well including a speedy recovery. have a wonderful holiday season.
    cheers
    irena

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  13. Best wishes for a quick recovery from your surgery. I loved the blue, blue post.

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  14. get better very soon , will miss your posts!

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  15. I think Holly Golightly's "mean reds" are a much better description of depression than "the blues". But "blue" has a sort of onomatopoetic moan sort of sound... In any case your blues are beautiful (yes, except the freakish one) and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

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  16. LOL - I'm not surprised you don't like that blue Poinsettia, it's truly tacky! I so hope this surgery goes well & fixes the problem for good. Rest up & take care of yourself.
    As for an all blue garden, I'm reminded of Gertrude Jeckyll's admonition that a garden of blue flowers seems to demand some lemon yellow flowers to bring out the blue more. I say plant that blue garden & stuff some orange in there to liven it up.

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  17. Hi Jodi,
    Blues are my favorites too! And yours are beautiful. I love the title of your post:) And, I'm glad these blues haven't gotten you 'blue'. Best wishes w/the surgery and hope you will be back to good health soon so you can do what you like best: garden! Jan

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  18. Hope it goes well for you next week Jodi.

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  19. It's good to hear from you again, jodi. How great you'll be able to get your surgery out of the way before Christmas -- hoping all goes well and that your recovery is complete and speedy. My FIL's bypass surgery has been re-re-re-rescheduled to 7 tomorrow morning...just as we're expecting 12 hours of freezing rain, of course. What stupid weather, eh? ;) I'll keep a light on...

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  20. Blue flowers are such a refresing change from the usual pinks and reds. I do love them.

    Best of luck with your surgery, I hope it goes as well as you hope!

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  21. thought you were having a summer snap there....what with all the loverly cold....
    hope your hospital goes well and does the trick.
    many blessings

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  22. Hope all is well. Your blue flowers are gorgeous, but blue Poinsettias is a bit much, even for me. I love any kind of blue flowers since we don't see much blue here in the desert, but even so, the Poinsettias are a bit much!
    Aiyana

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  23. Jodi, My favorite color is blue, too, and in my first shade garden I tried to plant lots of blue flowers. As a beginning gardener at the time, I didn't realize "blue" meant lavendar or purple sometimes. Or that the perfectly blue hydrangeas turned lavendar or pink without some amending of the soil. True blue is hard to find, but I would love to have an all blue garden!

    I hope all goes well with your surgery and your recovery goes quickly. If it gives you long-term relief, it will all be worth it.

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  24. Best of Luck Jodi! I'll be saying a prayer for you!

    xoxo
    Carla

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  25. All the best Jodi, get well soon. We’ll be here waiting

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  26. The delphiniums are killers. But I have to agree the blue poinsettias are well horrid even with my rose colored glasses. I'm sure your files are massive but there is something special about true blue African violets that are common and easy and can stay in bloom year-round. The blue Scilla species and hybrids are just the opposite.. Not easy to come by. And then the are the many orchids that are shades of blue the best are complex hybrids. If you are looking for more blue.

    I hope your surgery goes well. And you days bright and sunny.

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  27. God luck fixing that problem. I have yet to find a blue flower I didn't love either and I have to say, I was wondering what the heck that last flower was!

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  28. All I can think of after reading this post is Elvis singing, "I'll Have a Blue Christmas Without You" ... Get well soon, dear Jodi!

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  29. Good luck with the surgery. Will keep my fingers crossed for you. Make the most of the rest afterwards :)

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  30. Hey Jodie,

    I hope that your surgery went well and that you're now back home and being well taken care of.

    I share your fondness for blue flowers and yours are really gorgeous.

    Best wishes for a quick recovery.

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  31. Just wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Take good care of yourself, dear Jodi.

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  32. this is a great blog so i really hope all gets well soon.

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  33. Hi, Jodi;
    Beautiful photos, as usual. Except that blue poinsettia (the nerve!) Here's to a speedy recovery... Merry Christmas

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  34. Hi: Just when I found your site - our book club is reviewing The Birth House and just loved your article on the Garden - will share all the lovely plants with my fellow members.
    Noticed that you are into planters as well, perhaps when you are fit again, you could give us some ideas of what you put in your planters.
    All the best with your recovery - you certainly have lots of comments to review!!! Marion (The planterlady)

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  35. I love blue flowers... also, not the poinsettia! ;-) Hopefully you are feeling well soon.

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  36. Hallo from German. I enjoy your blog, but my english is not very good.
    I wish you all the best
    Monika

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  37. Just popped in to say hi, Jodi, and find you're recovering from surgery! Oh my! I do hope all went well and that you're healing rapidly.
    I'm another lover of blue, and your Rhapsodie en bleu is particularly lovely, with the exception, of course, of the poor unfortunate poinsettia. Who would do that to a beautiful plant?? They should be horse whipped!
    I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, in spite of perhaps not feeling tip top. I know your DB will be doing his best to make it wonderful for you :)

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  38. Hi Jodi,
    I've been enjoying blogging since the beginning of October. I have looked at so many, but I'm pretty sure I've been here before. I love your blue flowers! Do you grow amsonias? I am going to be doing a post on mine through the season, I'm not sure when, but hopefully in the next 2 weeks.

    I hope you heal well from your surgery.

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  39. Hi Jodi, I've been thinking about you and hoping you are ok:) Have a Merry Christmas! Jan

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  40. A little Blotanical birdie told me it was your birthday. I do hope all is well with you!

    Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!

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  41. Hi Jodi - I missed this post in the flurry of getting ready for my own surgery this month. I hope that all is well, that you are comfortable, and that you are recovering quickly!

    Amy

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  42. Jodi, I hope by now you are feeling better and are on your way to a speedy recovery. Happy Birthday! And may you have a wonderful Christmas.

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