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Today is a day of rest and renewal; a time to reflect upon and remember our fallen soldiers.

Show Date: 25 May 09

The following poem was written during World War I in a field in Belgium. It has become iconic with Fallen Soldiers:

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Corn poppy aka Flanders poppy

Corn poppy aka Flanders poppy

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This year has been talked about as being the biggest year yet for vegetable gardening.

Show Date: 22 May 09

They’ve compared it to the “Victory gardens” of WWII. I applaud you new veggie gardens and hope that you’ll start small so you’re not overwhelmed. Please email me with any questions you have and I will do my best to get back to you asap! As you head out to your vegetable garden, the flower bed, the lawn or the hammock for rest and renewal, please take a moment to reflect and remember our soldiers who gave everything for this great country. Maybe plant some red poppies!

Red poppy

Red poppy
Photo: American Meadows.

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Happy Mom’s Day!

My mom and I used to pick up pansies to fill her whiskey barrels. She wasn’t the gardener in the family, so that was my gift. A day of labor, labor of love. If your mom is a gardener there’s a tool that I’ve heard lots of good things about. The Soil Scoop:

The Soil Scoop

The Soil Scoop

If you still want to get mom chocolate, then consider the “Chocolate Ruffles” Heuchera, a great partial shade plant. Or Chocolate Scented Geranium?

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