A step into the unknown

For the first time in more than a year, I went shopping in person rather than online. Due to the coronavirus pandemic -- and my desire to not contract the virus and die -- I've been avoiding crowds since February 2020. But now that cases are falling and I'm halfway vaccinated (2nd dose tomorrow!), I decided to take a cautious step back into the world.

M had a rare Thursday off from work so after my shift ended, we drove over to the outside gardening center at Lowes. We knew there'd be fewer customers around since it was early in the day and the middle of the week. Plus, the weather was a bit blustery and we sensed that would keep people away too. Thankfully, we were right. After donning double masks, we ventured back into the world of commerce and purchased 8 bags of mulch, a strawberry plant, some spearmint, some chocolate mint and a bunch of flowers.

The whole experience was nerve-wracking, but at least we got what we needed. And, with a great deal of willpower, I did not go crazy and buy every plant that interested me.

Hooks: Can you believe the birds and chipmunks and squirrels ate two entire feeders worth of food in just 24 hours? I guess my feeders have been missed! Time to restock.

Plants: After work today, I went outside and filled the white, ceramic urns I keep in front of our home. Last year, I planted dramatic red geraniums and bleeding hearts. This year, I opted for a softer tone, combining blue moon phlox and white opening act phlox with velvety purple petunias. The whole display looks  good, if a bit uneven. Probably should've added a middle plant between the tall and short ones. Ah well, live and learn. Perhaps the petunias will grow a bit and fill that gap.

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