CIndee, I love Tithonia! I have forgotten to plant it the last couple of year but think I will prestart some seeds before I go in for my surgery next Wed. I did not remember that it was so fragrant either! I think I have seeds for both the gold and a wonderful orange one. I sure hope I still ahve the seeds for the gold one anyhow!

I got all my prestarted sweet peas (84) into the ground today and got started on the glads...got 120 of them in this evening. I am off my antinflamnatory meds until after surgery so it is a bit painful but planting is such a joy it takes some of the pain away too. I figure the exercise is good therapy for the knees!

How are you doing?

What lovely bouquets, Cindee! I found some Tithonia seeds earlier this year, while shopping for all the seeds I'm planting now! I believe they're yellowish gold in color. I can't wait to inhale their scent!

I have no rose buds yet, but the roses are beginning to leaf out... I lost a few small canes on my miniature red, but I think it's from Hux lifting his leg by the fence! I need to erect some sort of barrier against dog urine! There are two males that compete for the same fence area... not good for the plants!

Lizalily, I'm so happy you got your Glads in, and are getting some things done before surgery! I'm swamped with gardening chores, and I'm very thankful to have my pain meds and muscle relaxers for some relief! I don't think I could manage, otherwise. This year seems to be much worse than last, and try as I might, I find I can't do as much as I did last year. I completely understand how you must feel right now...

I've been taking lots of photos for your recovery time... you'll be able to see how the gardens change from week to week... it's amazing!

Jodi, spring time is hard on our bodies isn't it! Do you think it is the lupus that is making it harder or is it just gradual wearing away in the joints? Is joint replacement a possiblity for you down the line?

I worked outside yesterday and oh my but I have sore muscles today! All that PT worked well for the knee but there are sure a lot of other areas that needed stretching and strengthening!

YOu better schedule in some day time rests so you can keep going! I sure know that drive to push on to the next emergency in the garden though. My whole garden is an emergency right now, LOL. I am focusing on my business but oh how badly my personal rose garden looks! The lilies and perennails are pushing right up through the weeds though so I guess I will still have color, but it is going to be a hard summers work to catch up on it!

I'm fairly certain it's Lupus going into overdrive... it seems to affect me in cycles... there are times when I'll feel pretty decent for quite a while, like a remission... and then it gets worse, and the symptoms all show up with a vengeance! Right now, it's vengeance time! The pain is horrible, my hair is falling out by the brush full, I'm constantly tired and feverish, I've got rashes and cold sores that come and go, my memory is even worse now, and I've been feeling like I'm on the verge of getting the flu... even my skin hurts at times... all classic symptoms of my lovely autoimmune disease!

Hopefully, it will subside fairly soon... I've got too much work to do outdoors! I just keep plodding away, one day at a time... and if I get really tired, I nap.

Every year, I try to get all the clean-up done, and keep ahead of the weeds so it's not too bad later in summer. It has helped a lot to mulch the beds, keeping weeds at a minimum. I'm on schedule with all the clean-up, it's the planting I always get behind in! There are tons of seeds to start, orders of plants coming in that need to be potted or planted in the beds, compost piles that need turning so I can utilize the finished product, watering to do... which reminds me... I need to get the soaker hoses all laid out in the beds before the plants get too big!

I'm at the point right now where I'm just getting used to the physical labor again... except the bending over! My lower back is not cooperating, and hurts every day! I'm seriously thinking about getting a scooter like Cindee's! Harbor Freight has them for $49.95!

It takes a bit, but I'll get back into the swing of things! I hibernate all winter, and then I suffer for my inactivity when it's time to begin the raking and shoveling in spring!

A gardener's life is not easy, but the rewards more than make up for it! I'll deal with the pain so I can enjoy fresh veggies and beautiful beds of flowers!

I've got the camera batteries on charge right now, so I can get new pictures of the just-opened tulips and daffodils in the morning! I'm saving a file of photos for your convalescence, and I'll begin posting them when you're surgery is complete. Hopefully, seeing all the flowers will take your mind off the pain for a little while, at least!

Jodi, dear. Sorry for your pain, honey. I feel for you! I want to tell you one thing about the Scoot. Because it is heavy and stable, it is hard to move if you aren't sitting on it. Once you are scooting along it's grand. Dennis and I are thinking about putting a removable pull handle on it to get it in and out of the garage. It's HEAVY! I have stopped leaving it outside because the bottom tray holds rain water, and some of the bolts started rusting. Still, It makes my gardening life so much easier. Dennis is even contemplating putting a small motor on it for me....YIKES!! Would I ever be gone in a flash! lol Feel better babe. I pray for you all the time.

Thanks, Cindee... It's not so bad once I take my meds and they begin to work. It's the second thing I reach for in the morning, with coffee being number one!

Harbor Freight only has the green scooter, but I don't care what color it is! I just need something to sit on while working so my back doesn't take all the stress! I'd like to get one of those little foam kneeling pads, too... those look like they'd really help when you need to be on your knees planting or reaching into the beds!

I'm sure if we got a scooter, Larry could devise something to pull it with, and he could probably install a small motor, as well! I could just see you with a motorized scooter, Cindee... zooming all over the yard! Accidentally running over some plants while getting used to it, and then zooming right down the driveway and out into the street, shouting, "I'll be back when I figure out how to turn around, Dennis! Warn the neighbors... and put away the cat!" LOL!

I wonder what type of motor would be more prudent for a scoot... a gas powered weed wacker type, or a battery powered one that you could plug in every night to charge. Definitely one that would keep the mph down to a minimum, and had an instant kill switch... just in case!

I always pray for you, too, my dear... for both of you! I don't want you to forget about taking care of yourself, and I know all your energy is focused on Dennis... I have faith that everything will work out fine.