Sore Throat Update

I cannot believe that I haven't posted anything in several months. My sore throat led to a skin rash, then to a skin biopsy, and eventually I had a late case of the flu. What a pain this has all been! The skin rash was an allergic version of eczema, not a huge surprise since my dad has a horrible time with his, but mine was very different looking and it was treated. (Thank God!) As for the other issues, I am currently going through a large number of tests to discover the cause of the horrible pain and swelling in my feet and hands. It isn't connected to my hereditary angioedema or my hereditary primary hypertension. I dread to say this, but if diagnosed, the things on the list are just like many other problems. There is no cure and really no great treatment. As for me I have been depressed, full of anxiety, and unable to garden much. I will keep my chin up though. The purple lilac across the street is in bloom and the color is amazing.

New Year, Sore Throat

I wish that I could have been given a better New Year's present. My throat is killing me and my lungs are filling up with phlegm. When you have an auto-immune disease, these little viruses can cause a lot of havoc. Everyone I know has already had this setback, but now it is my turn. As long as I can rest, I can get over it.
The seedlings in the basement continue to sprout. At least, again, I feel as though I am busy and growing because of them despite my immobility. My planting schedule is very much on track. Today I will work on putting more of my 12-weeks (before the first frost) batch into the fridge for cold stratification. Then I can prepare for my next batch scheduled for January 15th sowing.
We have another wind storm blowing here in the Willamette Valley. As I sit writing this I can see the limbs of one of my Doug firs being hurled hither and thither. I love those trees so much, but their needles can be messy. At least the street cleaner is here and their truck can clean up some of the debris.

I Moved a Garden

Several years ago, when we moved into our first home, I moved all of my plants from our rental home over to this one. Of course, there were a few improvements which I left behind, but, for the most part, I dug up at least 100 plants with the help of a friend from Poland, family, and my husband. The neighbors later told me that they weren't sure if I was a homeowner or a landscaper. I still laugh about that to this day. When I think of all of the crazy things I have done, this was certainly one of the funniest.

Winter Color

Sedum spathulifolium.

This Sedum is native to the Pacific NW and is typically found in areas which tend to be higher, drier and sunnier than our valleys usually are during the winter. I took this photo at the Gordon House last winter, but I have several at my home too. The red color in the winter is quite striking, and obviously, this plant can survive in the valley if planted with care.