Contain Yourself

Welcome back sunshine. It's 60 degrees today and it finally looks and feels like Spring. My soul is lifted. Three Sunday brunches in a row -- one long-standing tradition, one new invite and one new restaurant. The taxes are done and filed on time, despite major snafu involving old company and stock. Beware of mergers!!! Twelve-page research paper is almost done, save for the "research" that needs to be added.

Life is good and now it's time to reward myself with the annual spring container garden planting ritual.



I got a head start last weekend, planting -- or rather placing -- miniature root balls purchased at the Philadelphia Flower show. So in a few weeks, I should have lots of basil and some black-eyed susans. I also bought a flowering maple which will be interesting because I have never seen one of those before. When I bought it, it had beautiful tiny peachy-colored blooms. But they soon fell off and I've seen no more.

The color theme this year will be golden yellow and purple -- very dramatic jewel tones. The plan was to do all herbs, you know, something useful (it's the recession gnawing at me). But I need vibrant color on the balcony.

photo: apartmenttherapy.com

I will add a grape tomato plant to the mix and something that will flower well into fall. More basil and rosemary and lemongrass and lavender, oregano and sage. Makes me hungry just thinking about it. And it makes me smile to think of the joy I always find in the beauty of my compact garden on the balcony.