It was over Father's Day weekend that I took a photo of this white oak located on Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport property, once again on my way out of town and back to South Carolina. Good intentions... and late is better than never, right?
I'm kinda busy right now.
Packing. Weed-whacking. A visit to the eye doc to stock up on contact lenses today (and to find out my vision is 30% improved). Trips to Goodwill. Plus a million other things.
But tonight I went and visited my favorite camellia gardener. When I drove down the road to the farm, I came across him in a plot of potted camellias, taking cuttings. Next to the plot was his golf cart. I had brought us eclairs that I purchased from Earthfare, and after the cuttings were safely tucked away in Skip's sand-filled rooting bed, we toasted with our eclairs and talked about life in the big city and how we think the whole planet is going to pot and about lightning strikes. I ended up staying for about three hours - longer than I intended, but I found myself not wanting to leave. Have you ever had one of those places where from the first moment you saw the place, you felt at home there? Well that's how I feel at Skip's place. Folks that view the world in a way that I embrace live there - and their views seep through the soil, dancing around in the camellia groves, and can be smelled in the breeze floating over Church Creek.
I'll visit Skip again in October, when I return - a nice (albeit exhausting) part of this new position is that I'll be able to return to the Lowcountry every 5-6 weeks to keep my lab here going (and, of course, to work in my own garden). When I do return, I'll take my potted satsuma, lemon and kumquats (and perhaps another plant or two) to Skip's greenhouse so that they have a safe place to overwinter. It'll feel good, knowing that he is watching over them.
One week from tonight the U-haul. My mental to-do list is a long one, but at least my visit to see Skip is something I can check off the list now.
~~~~~
Some past images of the White Oak:
I have loved those pictures of that White Oak. Change is hard. Moving is hard. Glad you were able to go to see your friend.
Posted by: Janet, The Queen of Seaford | 29 July 2011 at 11:13 PM
Pam, I have read your blog for years and eagerly look forward to your updates. I have even planned to try to visit you in the lowcountry but have procrastinated too long. Please keep us posted on your life, you science, and your wonderful perspective on life as you enter another stage.
Sailingcvgal Wilmington, NC
Posted by: Myra Sieve | 30 July 2011 at 04:39 PM
Good to hear from you and I completely understand your affinity for Skip's place. There are places that feel like home and we should always embrace them. Thinking about you as you begin anew. I am a little worried about your garden alone......
Posted by: Sheran | 01 August 2011 at 12:23 PM
Thanks Janet. The sweet thing is that when I come back from a visit in October, I'll take him my citrus in large pots (a lemon and a satsuma) and he is going to care for him in his greenhouse this winter. That feels good.
Sailingcvgal - thank you so much. Once nice thing about this position is that it is a 'Visiting Scientist' position, and I will be spending about one week every five weeks back in SC, in the Airstream and in my garden. So there will still be opportunities to meet sometime - I'd like that.
Sheran, as always, thank you. It's nice knowing that someone else (besides me!) is worried about my garden. This season I have been careful to not plant anything new (mostly just transplant stuff), and I've done alot of pruning and mulching, in preparation. The heat of August and early September will be the toughest time - and I'll have a friend nearby come by occasionally and water the more sensitive plants (which I know isn't the same as some watching over them daily). I'm sure that I'll be anxious my first visit back, in October - and I'll probably spend a few days pampering things. And... the nice thing about gardens is their resilience - I think of the old roses who have survived neglected lives in old cemeteries over the years.
Posted by: Pam | 01 August 2011 at 08:00 PM
30% improved vision?! What is your secret? Wow. That is wonderful.
In other news. I sold my little airstream. Sob. At least it was to a gentleman who adored her.
Posted by: Joan | 01 August 2011 at 10:05 PM