Plastic Flowers?
Plastic flowers... now when I think about plastic flowers, I think of interior decorating. Several people use plastic flowers because real flowers don't last very long, and you can't always find the right flower to go with your color scheme in the Home Depot Gardening section. And let's face it, unless these are actual potted flowers, they are not going to last... so really fake flowers serve as a sound investment when considering all the fresh flowers you would have to buy to keep up the look indoors.
Plastic flowers... outside... that's a different story. I'm not talking about porch decorations, no... I'm talking planted plastic flowers. Now this is just lazy. The first time I was exposed to this was in upstate New York during my mission. I can understand that the intensity of the winter is harsh enough to keep anyone indoors. But I hardly expect flowers to be abloom during the winter. I have a hard time determining what these people are motivated by... pride (wanting their lawns to be brilliant and decorative... even amidst a blizzard?)... miseducation (perhaps they don't know that flowers don't grow in the winter, and there is no Jones' to keep up with, or maybe because there aren't any Jones' to keep up with it, it makes them feel like they win)... laziness (perhaps this really is the issue...
they want to have a gorgeous garden throughout the rest of the year and put in minimal effort. The trick here is that it makes it look like they have immaculate gardens, but their facade comes to a laughable hault when between snow storms in the winter we can see perfectly fake flowers growing.)
Now, I had thought this phenomenon was just a trait of my New Yorkers... but the other day while I was filling up on gas, I noticed that the Cheveron had done the same thing (picture). The hysterical part of this is that these fake flowers are actually planted in real dirt. I had to laugh... and then wonder where the owner was from. I'm guessing upstate New York. But my stance is either... no flowers or real flowers outdoors.
Plastic flowers... outside... that's a different story. I'm not talking about porch decorations, no... I'm talking planted plastic flowers. Now this is just lazy. The first time I was exposed to this was in upstate New York during my mission. I can understand that the intensity of the winter is harsh enough to keep anyone indoors. But I hardly expect flowers to be abloom during the winter. I have a hard time determining what these people are motivated by... pride (wanting their lawns to be brilliant and decorative... even amidst a blizzard?)... miseducation (perhaps they don't know that flowers don't grow in the winter, and there is no Jones' to keep up with, or maybe because there aren't any Jones' to keep up with it, it makes them feel like they win)... laziness (perhaps this really is the issue...
they want to have a gorgeous garden throughout the rest of the year and put in minimal effort. The trick here is that it makes it look like they have immaculate gardens, but their facade comes to a laughable hault when between snow storms in the winter we can see perfectly fake flowers growing.)Now, I had thought this phenomenon was just a trait of my New Yorkers... but the other day while I was filling up on gas, I noticed that the Cheveron had done the same thing (picture). The hysterical part of this is that these fake flowers are actually planted in real dirt. I had to laugh... and then wonder where the owner was from. I'm guessing upstate New York. But my stance is either... no flowers or real flowers outdoors.
Comments
watering-just right, based on the rain or snow, fertilzer, maybe plant sprays, etc if you do not want any insects or crawly things to eat your leaves, and then planting the real flowers. You learn that marigolds near tomatoes help keep affids away--neat. You learn to spray your roses with water or just buy ladybugs to eat the affids off your roses. Snails are awful and do destroy many a plant. Some flowers come back year after year (pernnials) and others die (annuals). I am learning that you need to prune in the fall, so that in the spring you have less growth and fewer trips to the dump with your green waste. I like working on my knees with my gloved hands working in the dirt--GREAT THERAPY...but, if you are not careful, like myself last spring, you came down with an awful right arm of tendinitous (sp). Which the doctor says every spring they get a bunch of patients with tendinitous---simply because the patients stretch and pull and haul and carry limbs and weeds and plant new real flowers. At times I think...hey, where are the fake flowers to stab into the dirt!!! :)
But, as the flowers begin to blossom and brighten the flower garden(s)...it seems to be worth it once again. I LOVE THE BEAUTY OF FLOWERS!!! Real flowers are best! However, I think about fake flowers from time to time. :)
I hope all is well with you! :)