Joanie's Rock Garden

Do I have a story... (I love stories!)

I have a thing about rocks! Not a new attraction, mind you, I've had it for years. I have special rocks ferreted away all over the place. They range in size from OH.My.Stinkin.Heck to tiny ones that float (yes, there really are rocks that float!) And, you will notice, I have a label/tag *rocks*.  Different, but there you are!

In June when I was cleaning up flower beds, fighting with the sprinkler system and the like I got the great idea to take an otherwise ugly corner in the little island situated between the driveway, sidewalk and front porch and create a rock garden.



But before I tell you about the rock garden, now in beautiful full bloom I have to... 

*back up the story truck*!

I've blogged before about this particular rock.



When I stopped to take this photo last March 19th the thought occurred to me that perhaps I'd like to take some Feather River rocks home with me! I tried to figure out how to get this one home! (bwahahahaha... don't be ree-Dic-u-Lous!)

What about this one? OK! (heavy sigh)



I finally had to settle for these (decomposed granite) that had come crashing down on the road in the recent winter storms...



I brought them home and put them in the garage to wait until I decided what I would do with them.

You know that I love to create: sewing, quilting, painting, crafting, gardening... but usually I just do what I like! I don't think much about the symbolism of my creation. I can only think of a couple times that symbolism is what has driven a project. This project: my rock garden didn't start out to be symbolic but when I finished I realized that there was so much symbolism there I couldn't ignore it!

Hens and chicks were in this ugly, little corner when I move here and managed to survive with minimal attention. These sweet little survivors would get to take center stage right there with my Feather River rocks. That was the start...



As I'd just re-potted my house plants I had my Shamrock plant: which dates back to my Joanie O'Kelley days. I had a bunch of little light pink bulbs left and decided to add some of these. Also Aloe Vera that used to grow in a protected corner in my Palmdale garden.



DeLoris and I had been plant shopping and I found this beautiful tri-colored Sedum... another tenacious survivor.



I wanted some height so I added a pot with petunias, of course, and a beautiful geranium that called to me. Then I filled in and around the bed with my plenteous supply Hobble Creek rocks (that literally grow in my soil here. Truly, rocks percolate up through the soil because of the freezing/thawing process... so they must GROW!)



Then, last Sunday, our Relief Society lesson was President Uchtdorf's Conference address The Merciful Obtain Mercy (aka *Stop It*). As an object lesson Noelle gave each of the Relief Society Presidency a large rock to hold... for the whole lesson! Colleen Lee started to doodle on her's writing key phrases from the lesson on her rock.



I KNEW I had to have that rock for my rock garden.



So, what of the symbolism?

• ROCKS = My Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is my sure foundation! (And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. Helaman 5:12)
• HENS & CHICKS = Those wonderful, eternal family ties! (My Celestial children, my parents!)
• SURVIVORS = I am one!
• FEATHER RIVER ROCKS = my roots.
• SHAMROCK PLANT = Not just luck... but the CHOICE to be happy even when things go terrible wrong.
• ALOE VERA = that wonderful healing balm.
• PALMDALE (a protected corner) = a place where my roots grew deep!  I still have roots there!
• DeLORIS = my friends, who are also survivors, who help me on my rocky road.
• PETUNIAS = this sweet smelling flower will always remind me of my dear Mom!  I must have them in my gardens.
• HOBBLE CREEK ROCKS = my new home... I'm so grateful for all of the wonderful, bounteous blessings that have come to me here.  Yes, more roots that just seem to connect right back to my Greenville days of small town, mountains, and seasons.
• *STOP IT* =  The constant need to forgive AND be forgiven.

Every time I look at my wonderful rock garden, which is almost daily, it makes me happy and reminds me of all of the blessings I have.

Virginia Creeper

I know that there are some who consider Virginia creeper to be a weed.  One to be stamped out, uprooted, and banished. But I don't happen to one of them. I love the happy leaves and purple berries. I love the way it enfolds a home, fence or chimney.

I grew up hearing my mom talk about Virginia creeper but I don't remember that we had any around our place. The first time I truly appreciated it was in the fall of 1974. We were living in Priest River, Idaho. There, on the west side of town, was a house that had an enormous fir tree growing in the front yard- you know the kind- it dwarfs the house in the yard it is so huge! That fall I saw the Virginia creeper, which had previously gone unnoticed, glowing in shades of vermillion and crimson, purple and scarlet! What a beautiful sight.



So when Virginia moved into my yard of her own accord I encouraged her. Frankly it's been a slow process. This is the third year since she appeared growing along the fence. I'm sure that having a new fence built (18 months ago) knocked her growth back a little.  I finally feel like not only is she going to make it but she is thriving!

And, as you see, I've been rewarded with a beautiful fall display.

Last Day...

(boo-hoo-hoo-hoo... sniff!)

The weather-guesser is predicting our first freeze for this evening... sniff, snuffle...

That means that my beautiful fall flowers are going to be a thing of the past. I just love what happens to my flowers in September and October! The heat of the summer is over and they rebound with an extra wave of color. I had no idea that these petunias and mums would make such a beautiful combination when I planted the petunias back in May!



So, sad, sad, SAD... tomorrow these will be all wilted and sorry... sniff...



kk_and then some- color burn 62%
kk_dream- darken 100%

003- Shamrock Blossom

Many years ago (about 1976) I became the proud owner of a Shamrock plant. I love the delicate, almost transparent tri-leaf and dainty white blossoms. The leaves green on top and a reddish-purple underneath. It opens in the light and then closes again in the shade. This funny little plant grows from a bulb-like root that multiplies. I had that same plant until we moved here to Utah but sadly it didn't survive the move.

I'd shared starts of this Shamrock with family members so last spring I asked Ann if I could have a start back. Sadly, her Shamrock has just died!

So imagine my surprise when Ann and Wayne showed up at my house around St Patrick's day with a beautiful little Shamrock plant? I think I love this one even more!



This summer I found an all purple Shamrock which I mixed in with the green... what a happy spot of color my Shamrock plant is on this winter day.