Happy Easter, Sunday Letter readers!
Easter really sneaked up on me this year. I don’t know if I’ve not been paying attention to the calendar or what, but the truth is this too-big-for-its-britches year needs to slow itself down. I’m not kidding. I can barely keep my head above water.
Today is also my sister’s birthday. Yay for sisters and yay for birthdays! Some people don’t recognize how special both are.
So Much Has Happened In the Garden
In the past two weeks, our garden has really awakened to spring. Our hostas are up and growing an inch a day it seems. Climbing roses and clematis are lush with leaves and buds. Even Liatris, my favorite summer butterfly-magnet, is showing itself.
The bleeding hearts are bleeding.
I only discovered the magic of these Bleeding Hearts a few years ago, and now they are one of my early springtime favorites. I especially like the chartreuse foliage of this variety. The heart flowers are like little suspended charms.
According to the Etymology Dictionary:
bleeding heart (n.)
name applied to several types of flowering plant, 1690s;
In the sense of “person liberally and excessively sympathetic” (especially toward those the speaker or writer deems not to deserve it) is attested by 1951, but said by many to have been popularized with reference to liberals (especially Eleanor Roosevelt) in 1930s by newspaper columnist Westbrook Pegler (1894-1969), though quotations are wanting; bleeding in a figurative sense of “generous” is from late 16c., and the notion of one’s heart bleeding as a figure of emotional anguish is from late 14c.; the exact image here may be the “bleeding heart of Jesus.”
Based on the plant appearance and the meaning behind its name, this is the perfect bloomer for Easter.
Our garden is always evolving, in part because the plants are becoming more mature, but also because we move them around when necessary. And, we always find room for new ones that catch our eye.
Last week, I moved Shasta daisies from the front bed to the back. I transplanted a few coral bells to what I hope will be more favorable spots. I divided lots of black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and Lenten rose. Dividing perennials helps them better perform. Crowded perennials are more susceptible to disease and powdery mildew.
What’s happening in your garden this Easter morning?
Garden-Friendly Containers
When I ran out of plastic nursery containers for my divided plant babies, I made my own. This is an easy thing to do and a great way to reuse last week’s Sunday newspaper.
I followed the steps in the YouTube video below, but rather than using a fancy wooden dowel (which I don’t have—and didn’t know existed until watching this video), I used an empty beer can (which I did have). I had to do a little more pressing and manipulation on the bottom of my containers than the lucky girl with the proper wooden pot maker. But my method worked!
Anyone need plant babies?
Arkansas Pie Festival
Yesterday I had the honor of serving as a judge at the Arkansas Pie Festival in Cherokee Village. What a sweet time!!!
Fact #1:
I’ve never laid eyes so much glorious pie in one room.
Fact #2:
I’ve never consumed so much sugar in one afternoon.
Even though Cherokee Village experienced awful storms and a near-tornado the night before (Momma and I spent part of the night hunkered down in the bathroom of our AirBnb house), over 1,000 people turned out for the pie festival. Incredible!
You should definitely put this event on your calendar for next year. With pie-eating contests, pie auctions, a pie shop, live music, pie sampling—there is something for everyone to do.
I heard this is the only official pie festival in the country.
Fact #3:
Arkansans can bake pie like nobody’s business.
The way the judging worked: Three judges scored commercially baked pies and three others (including me) judged non-commercial and student baked pies. That’s 26 pies I tasted. We scored initial presentation, crust (texture and taste), filling (viscosity, color, and taste), and overall appearance. Awards were given for best cream, nut, chocolate, fruit, savory, overall, and people’s choice.
All the winners will be soon be posted on the Arkansas Pie Festival Facebook page.
Yum. Yum.
Things Momma Says:
I don’t think I’d make it on Survivor. Even if I want to, don’t let me sign up.
***
Thanks for reading today’s Easter Sunday Letter. If it doesn’t make a lick of sense, it’s because of all the sugar still coursing through my veins.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Happy Easter, and let’s hope Bleeding Hearts overgrow all of our gardens.
True, true!
So nice to meet you in person at the festival! It was busy and serving up pie to all those people didn’t leave time to do more than the quick chat. So glad you came to what the town hopes will continue on as “our” festival!
Yikes on you and your Mom having to ride out that storm… I’m watching to see if it gets labeled a tornado; if it touched down anywhere. It hit hard in our area and my blooms are gone. I had put out geraniums to harden off and didn’t get the chance to rescue them and there they sit, broken and naked. Maybe they will make it back? The perennials will survive and sometimes thrive! Happy Easter!
Meeting you was a highlight! I’m sorry about your geraniums. I bet they will survive. I had such a fun time at the festival and hope to be invited back next year.
Happy Easter, Your garden plants sound amazing! At this time I only have daffodils blooming. They do seem extra beautiful this year. I usually have lots of Virginia Bluebells and Bleeding Hearts at this time but Mother Nature didn’t cooperate. My Bleeding Hearts are just beginning to show through the soil. Our pear tree is just beginning to show signs of leaves. No blossoms! Friday my neighbor planted onions and potatoes in her vegetable garden. She shares and I can’t wait for fresh produce. I contribute all of my kitchen scraps to her compost.
Sounds like you have a great corroboration worked out with your neighbor! I need to plant bluebells. I saw some gorgeous ones blooming at the Fayetteville Square last week.
In Jan Karon’ books Father Tim eats a whole Orange marmalade cake and ends up in a diabetic coma. Sounds to me like the pie festival should have EMT’s on hand. My blood sugar just shot up reading about all those pies!
I thought the last hard freeze got my Dutch irises, but yesterday in the rain, I saw 2 buds! My hostas are growing faster than yours, but we live in Garland County where it’s warm. Thanks for my Sunday treat!
Thanks for reading! My Uncle Rex ate a whole chocolate cake one time (and a liter of Coke) and ended up in the hospital. True story.
I will go ahead and confess. Here it is Easter Sunday, and I have committed a mortal sin. I think envy is one of them. How come nobody invited me to judge the pie contest?
I love pie better than all other things. I’m afraid, however, I have set ideas about pie, which would not make for fair judging. Creamy pies! Oh, my! Were there any key limes? I have no idea where Cherokee Village is, but if it’s close to Fayetteville, I will be there next year. Lucky, lucky you!
Cherokee Village is near Hardy. Worth the drive to taste all the pie! There was only one lemon and no key lime. I was a little disappointed by that!
Happy Easter, Talya. I love Bleeding Hearts but don’t have any in my yard yet. My peonies have come up and the hosta are making progress. I love spring. I know your yard is beautiful. Happy Birthday to Stacy. Today is also Bonnie’s and Gary’s grandson, Trent’s third birthday. Just got home from a little party. Judging pie sounds like a great way to OD on sugar!
I’m on the hunt for Liatris! Always fun to read your letter, and I learn a lot about gardening as well.