The Garden Corner Column: Baby, you’re a flowerwork
Tualatin's The Garden Corner writes a monthly column to help you keep up with your garden year-round
By Hannah Cashman
SHERWOOD, ORE. — The grandest finale to a night at the circus is a fireworks show. In mere minutes, an everlasting impression can be made (both good and bad). Multiple senses are stimulated: the resounding sound you feel in your heart, the sparkling showers of light, the slight awareness of the crowd within a finger's touch, followed later by the smoky smell of pyrotechnics. Oftentimes, a sensory taste is even added in with a traditional ice cream, fresh popcorn, or that obligatory cotton candy.
Many emotions arise with the deep booms, as it is something we all experience differently. Fireworks for me stimulate romance. Fireworks in my circus symbolize the grand finale. The showers that crackle, one at a time, then the massive showdown, where there is hardly a moment to do anything beyond watching in awe. The final kiss, the magic, the fireworks. A symbolic celebration that is surrounded by an outpouring of happily ever afters. I leave every show with a sense of dreaminess, that feeling like I am living in a world of imagination.
My husband, however, does not find the same positive stimulation. Maybe it’s because thirteen years ago, on Independence Day, I officially introduced him to my performing troop as my boyfriend. Yikes! Or maybe the overwhelm of senses causes his system to shift into overdrive, making the overall experience less than thrilling. Either way, every following year, much to his chagrin, I drag him to a local fireworks show to sit uncomfortably on the lawn hours before the show. His dedication to keeping the tradition that I enjoyed screamed to me- he was a showstopper.
Just like our relationship, the technology behind fireworks has evolved. Now there are drone shows, laser light shows, and even some exquisite natural examples. Since I love my husband, we have found enjoyment in something quieter, longer, and potentially more enjoyable than my favored sparklers. A rarely advertised show that comes to full bloom in the month of July, I call them Flowerworks.
Flowerworks is the sensory display that is put on by a garden filled with summer color. Just like fireworks, these blooms can attract multiple senses at once. A scent from a heliotrope or jasmine wafts over the space, while honeysuckle and agapanthus spout flowers that truly take on the shape of an explosion. Hydrangeas can bloom so tightly that your hand can ruffle through the blooms without disturbing a petal. The best part, in my husband’s opinion, is that the only sound you will hear is that of yourself sighing in contentment.
This display lasts weeks, as opposed to mere minutes. Imagine a spectator in your garden. As the blooms open and color rotates through your yard. “OH, AH!” The blooming crackles fizzle out from one shrub, only to be followed by the irresistible scent from another. Sprouting magically from the ground on tall stems, a constant evolution of beauty. Even the ripening of tomatoes can bring red and orange to your vegetable box. Then comes the finale, the moment when your yard has hit peak bloom and the amazing dazzles of color are so surprising that you simply do not know where to look.
It all settles. Just as exciting as that initial BOOM, the blooms quiet down, fading into a wonderful, chaotic series of events. A deep breath and a promise to watch them all bloom again next year. It is just as magical as leaving the gates of the circus.
Hannah Cashman, full-time Garden Rebel, part-time Mom. Text your plant questions to (971)-512-2688.
