Wednesday, September 17, 2008

That Empty Feeling

One of the saddest sights in my garden is the empty plant pole. I know they’re really called Shepherd Hooks, but since I’ve never had any sheep and don’t see any in my near future, I prefer to call them hanging basket holder poles, aka birdfeeder holder upper poles, aka birdhouse holder poles or just simply poles which I will use here because it makes for a lot less typing.

Living in a condo with limited garden space, going up is the only option when you’re looking through seed catalogues and you just have to have one of these, one of those and oh, 2 of these, maybe some of this and some of that, and most certainly some of these gorgeous “new this year” ones.

So in order to cram as many flowers, and a few birdhouses and birdfeeders, into my space as possible I now have 12 of these poles in and around my gardens. No, that’s not a typo, I said 12. Some with single hooks, some double, tall, short, you name it, I got it.

All summer long these sturdy poles are working hard, sometimes being used as a living fence, lined up between my yard and my neighbors holding blue wave petunias.



Sometimes used as a way to hide the gas meters


And sometimes just to brighten up a dark corner


But now, in the middle of September, these poor poles no longer have a job. Except for the 2 by the back fence holding the birdhouses, the rest are laid off, standing bare and idle, looking forlorn and sad

Until next May, when once again they will be put to good use holding oriole and hummingbird feeders, and the new generation of must have plants, looking gorgeous and making me happy, until the wind blows real hard and I have to run out there and take everything down, and wonder why in the world I have so many of these darn things.

25 comments:

Susie said...

Flydragon-That's a sad thought that your "poles" won't have anything on them during the winter. What about hanging some pots of pansies or trailing snapdragons? Do they make it through your winter? If not, why not hang some windchimes? Your neighbors would love you for sure!

Shady Gardener said...

Aha! I have just the thing you need... a homemade scare the birds! ;-) I used my double hanger pole last year for my "Susan," but the pole is holding hummingbird feeders this year. Obviously I need another double holder, since my duct tape doesn't work very well! ha. Thanks for stopping by. (And, by the way, I think poles are great for holding your baskets of flowers!) :-) Have a great day!

Roses and Lilacs said...

The shepherd's hooks are the only things I never bring in. They hold birdfeeders all winter long.
Marnie

flydragon said...

Susie,
I'm sorry to say no potted flowers would make it through these winters up here. As for the windchimes, I might like it but I'm pretty sure my neighbors would get tired of hearing all that chiming all day and all night long, lol.

Shady,
That homemade scare the birds thingy sounds quite interesting, I just might look into something like that seeing that I can see all these empty poles from my windows.

Marnie,
I never bring them in either, but I put my birdfeeders on brackets that I have attached to the house above my dining room window so that I can see the birds "up close and personal" and also so I can suddenly knock on the window and scare the problem birds away. That's always kinda fun.

Anonymous said...

Pack your poles and bring them down here for the winter. You will find plenty of things to do and plenty of wildlife to watch.

Fl Brat

flydragon said...

Fla brat,
The wildlife being you and Dan?

Nunya said...

yeah, i could just see you trying to get the poles past airport security.

oh that's right, you don't fly.

if it weren't for the dismal winters we have, spring would not be nearly as exciting. imho.

"in my humble opinion". not "i'm a ho".

fla brat is the ho.

flydragon said...

NVAM
play nice.

beckie said...

It is a sad time when we lose our bloomers to the fall. But spring will be here before you know it and you can once again fill your hooks with glorious flowers. In the meantimw you can always make plans for what to hang on them when spring comes.

Anonymous said...

Dan and I can be entertaining! NVAM (aka IMHO) never did play nice. Why would you expect her to start now? I'm just waiting for her to visit so we can take her gator hunting!!!!!!!!
Hehehehehee
Fl Brat

flydragon said...

Beckie,
I know. And I do make plans for next year. Drawing gardens, moving plants around on paper, deciding which flowers on which poles, pouring over the new catalogs, and then planting seeds the begining of March.

flydragon said...

Fla. brat,
If the gator hunt doesn't work out, you can always take her shark fishing.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmmmm
Anyone else we should take along?
Fla brat

flydragon said...

fla brat,
You can take along any steppymommas you might have.

Anonymous said...

I can't stand it--your family that is!!!! Am glad someone is 'translating' the textmessaging or whatever that's called:-)

SisterNan (or AuntNan:-)

flydragon said...

Nan,
Sorry but I'm afraid they're your family too. And that's called "making it up as you go along". Half of the time I have no idea what they're talking about. :-)

Anonymous said...

Aunt Nancy,
Don't let her fool you. Who do you think taught us this stuff? You grew up with her, what do you think? Just look at her comment about me taking my step mommy fishing and using her as shark bait. Oh, well, I think I will invite my step mommy over! Sounds like a great idea and I think my dad will appreciate it (if not him, my seeeeeeesters definitely will).

Fla Brat

raccoonlover1963/Lisa Myers said...

Good evening! I myself didn't put out any flowers this past summer. All I had is what grew on it's own. It was a little dismal without all my petunias, so I had to go around and take pictures of all the neighbors' flowers! LOL The way I look at it, if I don't plant it, I can't kill it. I'm not much good with plants or flowers, but yes, it does get kind of depressing when the flowers all start to die off. You know winter is coming. Hope to see you stop by soon. My internet is finally up and running.
Lisa

flydragon said...

Fla brat,
Where did I ever say "bait".



Lisa,
Welcome back. You were off for quite a while. When I lost my internet for just 2 days, I felt so cut off from everything. Silly, I know, but the darn thing has a way of becoming part of your daily life, and I feel lost without it. Talk about an Empty Feeling. lol

Anonymous said...

I know you! You didn't have to actually spell it out! I'm just like you (scary isn't it).

Heheheeehehhe
Fla Brat

flydragon said...

fla brat,
YOU are definitely scary!!!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Naked hooks, bird feeders are about it for the winter, some whirly things? I have seen pin wheels and fish..flying fish?? only in Minnesota! I enjoyed your skunk story!! I will be back to read more. Thanks for stopping by my blog! :)

flydragon said...

Hi Far Side,
I'm glad you stopped by. As for the flying fish, I think I'll pass on that one lol.

Nancy said...

Ike was a pain in the backside for more than us Houstonions, I see.

The occasional hurricane nonetheless.. Houston's long growing season do not make me want to live anywhere else.

flydragon said...

Hi Nancy,
Yes, we got a piece of Ike but nowhere near what you received. Glad you made it through in one or more pieces. In 3 or 4 months I'll be showing you what you're missing. That nice fluffy white stuff. YUCK