susannefortune

Let’s pretend we are on live radio and I am (sort of) interviewing Laura Fortune. Laura moved to NY in 1999. Of course this is a special show as Laura is my youngest daughter who moved this week from Manhattan to Brooklyn in the Greenpoint area. This is Laura’s new back yard.  This is Laura holding a “weed wacker and tackling her urban jungle”.  Let’s hear it for her!

As I see it, over the last few years Laura has missed a green space, she now has it. I know she is excited about what is possible in this small outdoor area. Let’s keep this picture in mind, it’s going to change. Would you look at that sweet little walk-way, the birdbath, and some extending perennials that someone has planted?  Look at that little cottage in the back…that is hers too. Laura has visions of it being a possible studio at some point.  Great vision.

Time is up for this interview. I am so happy for you, Laura.  I love that you love gardening too, no matter how big or little it is, it is just a part of who we are. So good luck and have fun creating your new outdoor living area and please join us with an occasional update.

Some of you might remember Susanne’s Garden Moments, an Internet Radio Show, talk radio which I loved and hosted for nearly 3 years. I was plugged into the Educational Perspective Hour/Clean and Green. The Show went live from different parts of the country from St. Petersburg and Ormond Beach, FL to Anchorage, AK, with Austin, TX, Breckenridge, CO, Sacramento, CA and Rising Sun, IN to name a few in between.

Of course a few shows from Tallahassee, FL as it is my base. I think I had some entertaining shows from here too, including the Tomato Farm in Quincy, FL on a loud tractor and picking blueberries at a Blueberry Farm in Jefferson County when a rain storm came over me from nowhere out in the field. The remote shows of Susanne’s Garden Moments will never be forgotten in my mind. Maybe the show was not that edge-y but the gardeners provided a bunch of “moments” for me and my listeners.

I miss the Susanne’s Garden Moments Show, the show and the relationships that were created by taking a risk, following my heart and listening to the passion in people’s stories.  Here’s my point. The next couple of posts are going to be about people who have a garden/outdoor story….let’s bring them on and get a glimpse into their gardens. It won’t be the same as live radio, but let’s try.  What do you say?

On my way to the pool this morning on South Ride a group of geese in their V formation were headed west.  This year I have noticed this more often than past years.   Occasionally drivers or at least I do, will stop and/or slow down for the geese crossing the road.  Who knows, they might have been going the same place I was, to the pool.  Is it possible that these geese and I had the same destination and they were walking?  I don’t know, it doesn’t seem right.

I have seen geese cross busy streets and wide intersections too.  People here, again at least I do allow them to cross.  Tallahassee is pretty wooded, this morning I had to wonder in all the tall trees, how DO they take flight when I know they would rather be flying.

People pronounce the name of this simple little flower differently, but regardless how you say it, they are the most refreshing summer flower of all.  They take the heat, the drought and they provide us with these beautiful cuttings that made it look simple.  How do they do it?

These zinnias are from Cheryl Moore’s garden and probably don’t look much different from the ones planted in your garden or mine.  Still all we have to do is to remember to throw out a packet of seeds or two in the spring.  These flowers will grow from last year’s seeds or from the old blooms collected from last year.  They are so resilient and come back for more of the same.  How do they do it?

A few days after a group of high schoolers came to my home for a dinner-meeting, it was crowded but what else is new?  It is a little cottage.   Right?   A couple of days later, ok a week went by, I walked by the sofa and guess what I found?  You guessed it.  Do I need to say more?  No.

Maybe that is another good thing about getting older, I find this funny.  Please don’t read into this post that I want you to come over and leave or toss your cookies!!!

Who is to say that a Living Room has to remain a living room?  A living room should be alive with activity to be living.  Right?  This week 40+ high school students from Wildwood Church, Tallahassee, Florida came together for what they call Koinonia, means fellowship.  This group made my little cottage house come alive with talking together,  squeezing in the tight spaces, eating dinner, singing, laughing and of course sharing their faith.  It was amazing to watch and hear them.

Of course the simplicity of my little cottage space provided us the opportunity to rearrange the furniture and crank up the fellowship in this living Living Room.   This Living Room has been the sight of Friend and Family Gatherings but also for several Retreats, Board Meetings for profit and not-for-profit, Strategic Planning Meetings for Start-up Companies, Political and Mediation Sessions to name a few, but I have to hand it to this group this week.  This cottage Living Room came alive with a living sight and sound.

The Fortune House – Living Room is silent now.  It needs some activity, come on it is a Living Room.   Can the best ideas be generated in stuffy board rooms or worse stale hotels….no way,  but that is another conversation and for now I’m hanging on to the energy of our youth and living or re-living the experience of this week.   So live it up!!

Last night on a walk after the rain, I noticed these flowers first, then the plant, then the little bunches of bananas.  I know the order is wrong, but maybe it is the way I see things, I guess.  This bananaplant is located right on Lee Avenue and so unique and huge too, but I saw it for the first time. 

Isn’t it interesting how we miss nature and probably alot of other things in life.  I do anyway.

On my way home with some fun things, the Fireworks plant in the front, a new interesting vintage lamp for the cottage, a sweet old button bouquet by Cheryl, the front is full. Guess what? So is the back. So many daisies, several new cracker roses plus an aged woven rug, Halls Glassware and of course bargain fashion items!!! Good times. Oh yes, I’m bringing home a new summer do too. Look close, check it out. Sassy!

Yesterday I rode with Cheryl to south Florida the same day Beryl was headed north. Heavy rains are needed all over our state, but it made the road trip difficult at times. We made it. Don’t mess with Mother Nature they say. OK, I say with lots of respect.

Here’s a little picture of my little garden. I only planted cherry tomatoes, red and yellow peppers. The harvest won’t be enormous as I have wonderful filtered sunlight and vegetables typically need more. In any event, here are my first fruits. The OT speaks of giving away one’s first fruits. I have tried to practice that theory, emphasis on tried. I know giving away something I really, really want has benefits. I also know the blessings of waiting while giving. I have to admit I wanted these first fruits. So I will wait and watch for the harvest. COME ON second fruit, you can do it now. Is it OK to cheer? I think so!