If you happen to walk along Broadway in front of Swedish Hospital (the main building), you may be diverted as I was yesterday by plants settled into challenging locations –all seem to have been installed about 15-20 years ago. Care now consists of regular sweeping of the asphalt beneath the plantings. The most astonishing –three large Daphne (Daphne odora, probably ‘Aureomarginata’) smothered in hundreds of blooms, thick enough that branches were nearly invisible. This plant, grown carefully, tucked into light shade at my old Seattle garden, was stuffed into concrete planters in roaring full sun. The fragrance of citrus, jasmine, honey –better than any perfume –made me wonder about picking some to make a lei before my appointments.
Grow this if you can, admire it if you don’t. I did not pluck a one. My mother, observing me when I lived in Baltimore for graduate school, saw that I would walk the alleys and come home with bouquets, saying ‘they hung out over the fences.’ She said ‘they’ll get you for pretty larceny.’ Perhaps that led to my joy in sharing flowers.
Dr. Michael Hart, the surgeon, says ‘every tube you lose is good news’ and I’m down to one left –the PCCc line is gone, oh boy. Appointments to set up radiology on April 5;
I plan to be just one more busy patient, setting the diagnosis aside and thinking of each day being closer to completing necessary treatments. THanks to all, Mary
FRAGRANCE ABUNDANTLY
April 1, 2011 by marysophia
The fragrance on Broadway one day
caused Mary Sophia to say,
“Faith and begorra!
It’s Daphne odora…
someone, quick, make me a lei!”
Hello Mary Dear, How lovely to know you have bathed in the fragrance of Daphne odora. I adore that scent … and, I have managed to kill each of the three successive plants that were carefully situated to be fragrant accompaniment into spring. Ah well, at least I can hear your description and breathe a deep breath and remember that glorious scent.
Love reading Wendy’s delightful ‘bring a smile to your face’ poems. I recently received this one by Mary Oliver … I had not heard it before and love its flow and grace and celebration of the magical lightness of being in spring. Much love to you, Judy
Such Singing in the Wild Branches
(Mary Oliver, Owls and Other Fantasies: Poems and Essays, Beacon Press, 2003)
It was spring
and finally I heard him
among the first leaves-
then I saw him clutching the limb
in an island of shade
with his red-brown feathers
all trim and neat for the new year.
First, I stood still
and thought of nothing.
Then I began to listen.
Then I was filled with gladness-
and that’s when it happened,
when I seemed to float,
to be, myself, a wing or a tree-
and I began to understand
what the bird was saying,
and the sands in the glass
stopped
for a pure white moment
while gravity sprinkled upward
like rain, rising,
and in fact
it became difficult to tell just what it was that was singing-
it was the thrush for sure, but it seemed
not a single thrush, but himself, and all his brothers,
and also the trees around them,
as well as the gliding, long-tailed clouds
in the perfectly blue sky- all, all of them
were singing.
And, of course, yes, so it seemed,
so was I.
Such soft and solemn and perfect music doesn’t last
for more than a few moments.
It’s one of those magical places wise people
like to talk about.
One of the things they say about it, that is true,
is that, once you’ve been there,
you’re there forever.
Listen, everyone has a chance.
Is it spring, is it morning?
Are there trees near you,
and does your own soul need comforting?
Quick, then- open the door and fly on your heavy feet; the song may already be drifting away.
Mary, so greatful for the wonderful smells of late winter/early spring. M likes the little tiny white flowers, and we have seen a few bushes here and there in Victoria. We head home Sunday, after a rollicking Mikado on Sat night. Got sick (respiratory), antibiotics are making stomach wobbly, but I will be packed in time. Wonderful, productive writing time. And now I hope for a wonderful, productive, best way you can get through it radiation time for you. It’s not what you planned to do this spring, I’ve no doubt, but it will help ensure that next spring comes. Love, Julia
Dearest Mary,
Your spirit is as appealing and fragrant as the delightful Daphne. I know as you journey to Swedish and back and forth from your Pt. Townsend home to your appointments on the peninsula you’ll be noticing and savoring all the plants you sight. Spring is sproinging and touching us all with blessings galore, as do you.
Peg
Wow….down to one tube is a victory in itself! I so look forward to ‘hearing’ you as I read your posts and picture you out and about. I’d love to be considered for one of your drivers if you are lining any up for your treatments. If not, any other way I can help…..I’d love to. The rains are a roaring down over here at Ludlow, but we got our leak and drainage problems solved (we hope) so things are looking up! Hugs to you.
Hello Mary, so nice to read that you are up and about, heading back to Seattle for all that tube removal (yeah!)…I can simply smell the daphnes, thanks to your glorious descriptions.
Sending love, Debra
First the sarcacocca, then the daphne fragrance.
Lately, I have been saying to friends from outside the area, “Oh… the ornamental fruit trees are in flower and the pink blossoms look wonderful against the gray skies.”
Let me know if you’re heading to Seattle on 4/5. I’d be glad to walk uphill to Swedish and say hello and/or bring you some lunch.
xox, b
PS- Love to cook for you, sometime, when/if you have a notion.
Dear Mary,
In my own cancer journey (far less demanding than yours!), I’ve sure learned to appreciate every blessed moment and lean gratefully on the support of friends and family. I still vividly remember your gavel during the 2004 Pierce County Master Gardener training on pesticides–it got the point across with humor! I’ll be thinking of you often, and (as my friend Claire says) surrounding you with a healing globe of golden light.
Be well,
Irene Mills
Hi Mary,
That’s one of my favorite shrubs! As soon as I smell it, I know it is the beginning of yummy spring. 🙂 Please let me know when you are visiting Seattle for your check-up next time. I do miss you and would love to see you soon.
xoxo
Suki