This is the time of year when I am frequently torn by opposing emotions. Concerning the garden, I mean. Let’s not even think about getting into all the other areas. Those 50 degree nights? They make me think about frost. It’s coming. Soon. Four weeks? Six weeks? And it makes me crazy. Everything is looking so nice.

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As a Horticulturist and a plant slut I am always looking for new plants to try. The fact that some, technically, are not hardy is of little concern. The catalogue may say zone 6 but it really means 5 I’m sure. If a plant is listed as a zone 7, well, lots of time we have zone 6 winters so really 7 is just one zone off. Close enough. I’ll take one.

Lycoris chinensis

I am not alone in this desire to push the limits of hardiness. I know a lot of people with Zonal Denial. Virtually all my coworkers and many friends as well are afflicted. I’ve long said that if I was gardening in the tropics I’m sure I would be trying to grow maples and beeches. It must be the I-can’t –have-it-so-I-want-it-even-more syndrome. Before I can even tell you about some successes I must confess some failures (it’s the recovering Catholic in me).

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It’s Friday the 13th. Oooooooooo. I’m so scared. If you want a history of why this day is considered bad go here. If you want to know why I don’t buy into the theory stay here. Black cat, you want to cross my path? Go right ahead. When you get to the other side I’ll give you a bowl of Friskees (Frisky!). I might even change your litter box. Ladder up ahead, I will walk right under you. Crack in the side walk, I will step on you. Then patch you so a stiletto heel won’t get mangled (To quote Karen from Will and Grace, “Kill one piece and the whole ensemble dies!”).

Personally I don’t think a date on the calendar brings bad luck. Frequently what appears to be bad luck is actually the result of bad judgment. When I rear ended the car in front of me many years ago it wasn’t bad luck. It was stupidity. Why did I take my foot off the brake at a red light? Maybe I was distracted by the Scotsman in the other bucket seat. When I don’t have a presentation ready and I have an article due and a blog to write – all on the same day, it isn’t bad luck. It’s procrastination (I almost said procastration. Entirely different. And as a general rule I am not but sometimes…..) We make much of our bad luck in my opinion. So on this day that is rife with superstition I’m looking at why this is a GOOD day.

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