A Few Suggestions

November 07, 2024

A Few Suggestions

Difficult for me to believe that I've been taking Tai Chi for 10 years and enjoying it so much. I've been taking Tai Chi for years...10 actually. My instructor is like a brother to me. We've always been there for each other and will be going forward. This man has helped me in so many ways. For instance, over the past few months, I've had some pretty severe discomfort and when I asked him for advice, he merely nodded and said, "Interesting that you bring that up JP. Today's qiguong warm up may help."

The next thing I knew our qigong warm-up was starting. Bottom line is this, NO PAIN. I continue to do as much of a facsimile at home each day as what he did in class.

Although he offers the classes on ZOOM, I prefer attending in person becuase I not only have more opportunity to ask questions about a particular movement than I do on ZOOM but I also get to socialize with a few friends.

Of course, when my one hydrangea had its bloom, I felt like a new mom all over again, showing off the photos each week. Well...it was while I was taking close-ups of that ONE bloom that I realized something. This bloom wasn't a puff ball like the few other blooms I've had over the years. This bloom is almost oval shaped...flatish and when I open up the the petals and looked below, there are these little, itty, bitty, white clusters!!

Well, one of my friends from class told me that her husband knows all about gardening and perhaps he could offer some suggestions. I took her up on the idea and the very next week, when the weather was decent and it wasn't so hot and humid, I texted them to come over.

Greeting them at the upper gate, I put my arm through Steven's and whisked him away to the hydrangeas while Sue was left with the Pres and Livy. Well, he immediately began pointing things out about my bushes. Yes, they are all "big leaf" hydrangeas however, they are no all the same variety for starters. Several had new growth on both old and new wood! WHO KNEW????

And yes, the ONE hydrangea (one of "the seven dwarfs) that bloomed is also a big leaf. However it is not a "mop-head" but rather a "lace-cap"! Again, I found myself saying WHO KNEW???

That afternoon, when I walked them up to their car, Steven's gave me some instructions..."suggestions" is what he called them:

don't cut anything off this Fall...ANYTHING; actually, don't TOUCH them until May; continue to water them regularly until the frost; fertilize them one time; call me in the Spring.

I did just as he said. Now, here it is November and all the hydrangeas are protected form the deer that
jump our perimeter fence with either deer mesh or actual lengths of fencing bought specifically for our shrubs. Yes indeed, they're ready...even though we've been having record-breaking warmth!!