o/t... paranoid... petrified.. and pessimistic...

4 years ago

Sorry for the negativity, but if anyone else is feeling the same way here, please let it all out... empathies welcome..

Gardening with roses is still there but it's taking a back seat at the moment... so many other priorities..

People say things like 'carpe diem'... and 'soldier on'... but it's difficult to plan ahead when you're not sure if you'll be there to enjoy it..

I've stopped buying plants and making do with what's there...

best wishes xxx

Featured Answer

Kes Z 7a E Tn

4 years ago

(((Virtual hugs))), Marlorena. Please sit back and have a nice virtual cup of tea or coffee with me. Right now it's the only kind I can share with friends near or far because of the sheltering in place advisory. In my wildest imagination I never thought of spending my spring this way. I am OK but some of my friends and family are very worried. Either they or a spouse, child or other loved one suffer from an underlying condition that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. Their concern is understandable; my heart goes out to them.

On the other hand, my elderly mother is refusing to take any of this seriously and hasn't varied her routine at all. Fortunately, the routine of a frail woman in her late 80's isn't too different from the sheltering in place advisory recommended by our local health authorities. I already know that she's not a reasonable person so I'll let her friends and neighbors explain why she should stay at home if they take exception to her occasional local jaunts.

Rain has been plentiful this spring so I spend a lot of my time waiting for drier weather. I guess I'll sit here and drink my coffee till I can get out and finish pruning. I hope for good things for you all. (How's that for Southern?)

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Comments (33)

stillanntn6b
4 years ago
I'm maybe going to be your opposite. After Rose Rosette has wiped out a lot of my roses. I've learned about the disease without waiting for the researchers to come up with a solution.

My solution IS (not was, but is) to look forward. Interplant some of the plants that I've wanted to grow, annuals and perennials. I've even ordered a bunch of dahlias. Years ago I attended Floriad in Holland in the middle of a business trip in a year that was the worst I had had to date. I remember corn being used in an exhibit as if it were a flower, but mostly I remember the huge dahlias that were as tall as I am (not that I'm altitudinally blessed). I've wanted to grow them since then. I even found a neighbor about a mile and a half away who never dug hers up in the fall and was shocked when I asked. And she was also on a hill top in east Tennessee.

There are other seeds that I've wanted to play with here: lots of everlastings that I hope grow because I loved the way they were used to decorate at Monticello not that far from my home.

I've even splurged on two olive trees that have, so far, successfully overwintered on my air-leaking passive solar porch along with a keffir lime that I now (second try) seem to have learned how to keep it alive through a Tennessee autumn.

And I just moved some galangal roots out side for the rain we're about to have.

Why? because I can. Because it distracts me from hearing, so damned often that I'm now classified as elderly. (Imagine the loudest raspberry you've ever heard blown.)

One more reason. Of the fatalities we've heard of, not a single one of their survivors said,

"She felt sick out in her garden"

"Who will plant the bulbs she ordered"

""Where will I get my shared tomato plants this spring"

"I love to drive by her garden"

Go, buy a packet of seed you've never grown before and let it amuse you.

With dirty fingernails at 9:30 am because I beat this morning's rain.

Ann
jacqueline9CA
4 years ago
Yes! I am so looking forward to getting out into my garden later (when the sun has come up). Such great news yesterday that they think (thanks to doctors in Poland, accd to the news) that there is a treatment that might work for people who already have "IT". Of course, they are working on other treatments, but this one which was just announced has the scientists excited - you can tell. Some sort of med which has been used since 1945 for malaria, combined with another common and available med. They are madly testing, of course, but in the US they have already approved it for use on otherwise hopeless cases, so it appears that they will get data on how it works very fast.

Last night (there seems to be something EVERY day) the State of California issued an order for everyone to shelter in place. Of course, there is a list of exemptions as long as your arm, and it includes outside exercise, as long as you social distance. So, we are going for a bike ride later today - along an estuary which is a bird sanctuary - it is so peaceful and lovely, and the birds are all paired up and courting. Makes my anxiety go away.

Yesterday I got & delivered some groceries for my sister, who is 82 and has several heart/circulation issues. We just talked through the screen door for a moment, but she was in very good spirits. She just got a new TV, and it was installed, and she was learning how to use the remote!

The simple things of life are going on, there is hardly any traffic (which is a HUGE improvement around here!), and I try to keep my glass half full - focusing on the good things - most people I talk with (from 6 feet away) are kind and more thoughtful than usual. Of course, I have not had any personal tragedies come out of this situation (yet), and for those who have, of course it is awful. I try not to spend too much time watching the TV, which understandably is focusing on those stories. I intend to spend several hours in the garden today, and I know that will make me feel happy. Since it is Spring, and as most of you know my garden is VERY visible, as part of it is planted on both sides of the sidewalk, I have been getting heartfelt thanks all the time from passing pedestrians - every day there are more flowers blooming.

Jackie
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erasmus_gw
4 years ago
Bad things always pass. There are some possible new treatments that sound very promising. An anti-malarial drug and also someone thinks they have developed an antibody. Then they will probably have a vaccine eventually.

I second Ann's solution to RRD depression. For one thing, it hasn't been devastating in my garden. Quick removal of an affected plant seems to work. I had zero cases of RRD last year. I just gave a rose to a neighbor and took the opportunity to give them a printout about RRD so they can keep an eye on their plants and hopefully will act quickly if they get it. So far I have had very good luck asking owners of sick roses to get rid of their plants. So far CVS, a bank, a funeral home, and a neighbor got rid of their plants. People care.

People are being friendlier in stores, not that I've been out much the last few days.

But I second Ann turning to the incredible diversity of plants, if you do get fed up with roses. I have a lot of seeds planted this year. Things I've wanted to try. It's work to prick them out and plant up in cell packs. But they are doing well...they grow fast once moved on the the packs. I have some nice foxgloves, canterbury bells, salpiglossis, dill, heliotrope, salvia coccinaea, cosmos, zinnias, gilia, ptilotus, nasturtiums, statice, rose campion, larkspurs....am out there trying to create more space to grow them. If you look on the bright side you won't waste your time. So if you're wrong and things turn out terrible. You will still have more fun. Be a radical...have fun! Not to minimize importance of precautions but don't let it ruin everything for you.
Rosylady (PNW zone 8)
4 years ago
I WISH I had time to go into the garden....I have 2 children to homeschool now and it's no joke. Every morning a full day of work is sent to me via email for each child and I spend the ENTIRE day helping them with only breaks for cooking meals and a little bit of cleaning.

I am completely exhausted...but at least we're healthy and my husband still has his job. We are one moment away from a shelter-place-order here.

marlorena...I completely understand how you feel.

To all of you who are able to garden right now, it's fun to hear about what your'e up to! I will live vicariously thru you as I sit and teach school :)
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
4 years ago
We have to all work at surviving this virus. I really agree, Marlorena, one more outrageous threat is not what everybody needed right now. Do take care of yourself and your loved ones. Reading can help. I just finished "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles. It really carried me away in a good way. Recommended by Diane, nanadoll.
jacqueline9CA
4 years ago
That is a FANTASTIC book! One of our nieces gave it to us last Christmas, and my DH read it and loved it. I was not inclined to read it, thinking it was some sort of tragic Russian (did not know there were any other kinds) story. However, I finally opened it up, and it is entrancing and lovely and interesting, and brilliant. A good recommendation for now.

Jackie
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country
4 years ago
I need to close the Solzhenitsyn book I began reading earlier this week ( which is as Jackie described) and see if "A Gentleman in Moscow" is available on Kindle. I prefer actual books that I can put my hands on etc. but...

I planted Larkspur seeds this morning, and now it is raining :)
ladybug A 9a Houston area
4 years ago
I am feeling negative as well, kids are home, working from home, pay cuts...uncertainty of when this will end...its rainy and grey outside
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Moving to TX from an area of perpetual drought, I love seeing the rain! It is cleansing. I cannot help but think of the beautiful blooms that will arrive very soon!

If everyone does their part, the spread of this virus can be contained and/or decreased with the least amount of casualties and infections overall. Also, there is hope with new and existing treatments that are being used, considered, or created.

I am also hoping that warmer weather has a positive impact too... It remains to be seen, but that is just around the corner.

Not to downplay the situation, but there are worse predicaments that human beings can and have been in... With our scientific knowledge etc., we are not in the worst position to deal with this crisis. Individual responsibility and care for all in our society is required. Doing so can positively impact lives and the economic crisis.
stillanntn6b
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
OK, Lynn has just mentioned Larkspur, and that's another of my childhood favorites. There were a few stray larkspur plants in one of the cow fields here. They weren't strong strains.

Back in Virginia we had a bed that became mums in the fall, but it reseeded itself easily for almost two decades. It was a mix of annual poppies, larkspur and bachelor buttons. It was a glorious riot of mixed colors. I'm trying to get it established here. One change: double larkspurs from Mountain Valley Seeds. (which through reseeding may become singles...I'll wait ....something minor to look forward to.) (Husband is on second tome of Solzhenitsyn's Archipelago)
K S 7b Little Rock (formerly of Seattle)
4 years ago
Hi Marlorena, it is totally normal for you to be feeling this way right now. Several of my friends are reporting a deep depression, losing all joy in the things that normally cheer them. Of course sunshine and spending time with plants is helpful to some extent, but it won't erase the underlying problem. I like Sheila's book-reading solution to quarantine. If I wasn't doing remote job interviews and trying to transition to teaching online right now I would download some mysteries. We all hope for the best, but I just want to restate that existential anguish is a completely suitable response to the current situation.
K S 7b Little Rock (formerly of Seattle)
4 years ago
Oh, and PS I started compulsively buying orchids online to increase the number of plants indoors. Maybe that's a stupid move (I should save the money for beans and rice). As far as coping mechanisms go, I've seen worse.
Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
4 years ago
I feel like we, my family, are getting off tremendously lightly, and feel somewhat guilty about it, with the epidemic and its tragedies raging around us while we sit comfortably at home at the farm. Even our daughter is managing her online university courses all by her grownup self. But I understand some of the anxiety, at least. Coronavirus has arrived where my relatives in the U.S. live. And I worry anytime I have to go around other people for fear I'll carry the virus back to DH. I've been carrying and using a bar of soap and water and a hand towel when I go out. And I go out only when I have to, mainly for groceries. I think the government in Italy has been doing a good job, and that really boosts morale.
monarda_gw
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
"The Anchovies Will Come" -- recorded by Alan Lomax (Jan. 1953).
Basque song with sea-chantey like chorus -- wait for the end!
Soloist:
As happy as the birds in Spring, we also are happy coming from this sad Winter.
For some time now we’ve been thinking of taking a walk along the street,
The day’s arrived, as we’d thought. If today anyone’s sad, they should come with us to Ondarroa and they’ll be happy with us.

Chorus:
Young lads, pay attention!
The young girls of Ondarroa know how to dress up.
Even when you’re all spruced up,
It won’t be easy to get to know them all.

My beautiful beloved, let’s be happy;
This year there’s no sea bream.
The anchovies will come when there are some;
We’ll make money next year.

https://youtu.be/DNZ8uBQfn54
HU-284226487
4 years ago
I love that Monarda! thanks so much for posting that. A friend of mine started to get cabin fever after two days "in shelter" near San Francisco, California, limiting us to leaving our property only to get food or medicine or to go to the bank.

I remembered being so content many years ago that I didn't leave a building for nearly six weeks. I only thought of it when I went outside, I looked up at the sky and I thought "haven't seen THAT in a while". I was living in an ashram that I had chosen because I wanted to learn how to meditate, in a monastic environment where I could still be a Christian. I had read that the founder had encouraged people to keep their religion what ever it was. Recently I remembered a meditation practice where one looked up at the sky and feel its' expansiveness. One need not even look at the sky, just imagine it. I made a vow to myself way back then, that if I should ever find myself in prison I would strive to be grateful for the space I had, and if I only had one blade of grass to admire, I would be content with that one green living blade.

Lux.
titian1 10b Sydney
4 years ago
I stood on my balcony last might, and looked up at the stars. I haven't seen that many for decades.
User
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks everyone for the support, and the sharing... I'm having that cup of tea Kes…

I did sow some seeds today...
damask_rose_zone9b
4 years ago
Hello everyone! I know everyone is going through a rough time right now. I’m not going to lie, the whole situation with this epidemic is very difficult, and it feels like there are dark clouds overhead. But sometimes we have to remember, without the rain there would be no rainbows. Try not to look at the news too much, unless need be. Good news doesn’t sell, that’s why there is never any. Take time to enjoy the simple things in life. Smell a flower, watch a bird fly, tell your family and friends you love them, count your blessings. You’ll find that life isn’t so bad after all. When I am worried, I like to go sit in my garden and read my poem book with my cat next to me, it works like a charm to calm my mind. Here is one of my favorite poems, especially for this time of year; I hope it gives you a little bit of joy and peace of mind:

Petals of Gold

Raindrops of silver bring petals of gold

When Spring’s crimson skies vanquish the cold

As flowers burst forth from Winter’s cold grave

To bask in the sun, to dance and to wave.

All earth’s a garden beneath sunny skies

For every sunrise brings a brand-new surprise.

Each day’s a treasure, a sight to behold,

When God writes “I love you” on petals of gold.

by Clay Harrison

Have a lovely weekend, will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers,

damask_rose_5 : )
mjkjrobinson
4 years ago
You all have brightened my spirit thankyou, that poem was beautiful! I am going to plant and make the garden beautiful! I hope everyone is ok, my daughter and I, have been feeling sick the last week or so{ not the virus} a cold! But when we get outside and work on the garden we feel so much better! Things are getting ready to bloom so happy! Stay safe everyone and hang in there!
kittymoonbeam
4 years ago
Please don't be too scared. Be concerned and be informed but look how people are coming together. What we set our minds on we can go great things. We are going to use our humanity and love and intelligence and defeat this. If we can isolate for two cycles of the virus which is about 3 weeks to a month, we can starve it out.

A microbiologist has studied the different masks and did you know that a fabric mask you can sew yourself and wash in hot soapy water will be nearly 90% effective at keeping the virus away. Especially if someone is practicing distancing as well. No it will not be useful for medical staff in close contact but as far as going out to buy food, it's very good. We were sewing ours in colorful prints with a t-shirt knit backing. And we are using throwaway gloves because much of the virus is by contact with surfaces. In some cases with extremely dry air, the virus will be very small and get through but mostly the virus is in moisture coming from a cough and most of that will be larger and falling on a surface. Most of the rest the fabric mask will stop. So its a good thing to have in your purse and takes less than an hour to sew one. There are great videos how online.

Staying home is the best protection. I hope we can get this behind us and maybe if we get enough people used to masks we can cut regular colds and flus way down in the future. That would save lives too.

Get your sleep to raise your immunity. Garlic, cranberry, green tea, vitamins c and d all are big virus destroyers. Get that going in your bloodstream and decrease sugar intake so that if some virus comes in you will be in top shape to kill it off.

I like this for lowering stress you can search Monterey aquarium's meditocean jellies. There are two different videos for relaxation watching the jellies.
User
Original Author
4 years ago
We are in lockdown now for 3 weeks... not that this can be monitored strictly but I'm not supposed to go out more than once a day solely for exercise - I'll have to make that at least twice for my dog... no gatherings of more than 2 people, and we keep our distance of 2 metres from anybody..

Shopping only for essential provisions.. pharmacy, or pet food... but there isn't much on the shelves..
K S 7b Little Rock (formerly of Seattle)
4 years ago
The lockdown is going to help. One of my friends whose father is in the UK is delighted about it, because only an official lockdown would stop her father from doing things that were dangerous for him (in terms of catching the virus). From a distance it was hard for her to convince him to stop, but now he has no choice! I hope the lockdown brings you some peace of mind, Marlorena! We are also ordered to remain in our houses in Seattle at this point.
kittymoonbeam
4 years ago
Good news also that because of the way this virus is constructed, they feel there is an excellent outlook for an effective vaccine. Also, they are testing using donated serum full of antibodies from recovered persons and it is helping the most hard hit people recover. Several drugs are showing real promise. We are going to get this thing and now it's just to test people a d see where we are. Summer will be much better and by next fall we will ready.

The mask i like is on the fabricpatch.net page. A nurse explains what interlining to use that will stop the virus and how to get a good fit. I've made them and it's nice to have if you need to go out.

3 virus specialists said don't be scared of takeout food. The virus will not live in the hot container/ meal. You need to be careful with the packaging/ bag and remove your food, throwaway the packaging and wash hands, then it's safe.
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
4 years ago
Kitty Moonbeam those jellyfish videos brought back memories. I have the CDs of the music from visits a long time ago.
jerijen
4 years ago
AnnTN said:
"My solution IS (not was, but is) to look forward."

I'm with Ann.
I refuse to let this lick me.
And if I can "shelter in place" with dogs and roses around me, I'm good.
Rosylady (PNW zone 8)
4 years ago
vaporvac....I have the jellyfish CD as well! I love it

I have an update on my lack of gardening due to homeschooling. After one week of homeschool from 8:30-3:30 every day (the school would send a daily schedule with assignments that were required to be done), all the parents revolted and told the teachers it was too much. Now we only have "school" from 8:30-12. In the afternoons, my kids are desperate to earn screen time and pocket money by helping me in the garden. So I have been able to get out there every afternoon, and my kids are really helpful! I'm so happy.

I pay them each $5 an hour :) I could NEVER be on my knees like that for very long!
Lisa Adams
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I love seeing that Rosylady. Who knows, maybe this will influence them to be gardeners in the future. Don’t count on it, though. My kids found “pull weeds”, on their Saturday chore list so often that they still don’t like the thought of helping in the garden. They do still help, occasionally.

I must say that my daily life hasn’t changed too much. I stay at home for long periods of time anyway. What DOES scare me, is that my daughter is an RN in the ICU. She is currently 27 weeks pregnant. She is given ONE mask for her entire 12 hour shift, and being told “it’s fine.” They haven’t given her a Covid-19 patient herself, ( because of her pregnancy), but they are all around her, as are the nurses who take care of them. I’m scared for her, and the other health care workers. We really need them to stay well.

Sorry, that’s my “letting it all out”. Lisa
Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
4 years ago
A valid concern, Lisa, and it's good to speak of it. You have a sympathetic audience here.

About Rosylady's children earning screen time, my daughter used to earn a minute of screen time for every minute she practiced piano.
Lisa Adams
4 years ago
Thanks Melissa. I’ve been worried about it for a while, but I finally mentioned it here. It’s been difficult only seeing her from a safe distance. She had to stop by twice to drop something off, and pick up something. What a production to decontaminate items and place it in a spot outside. We chat from a safe distance apart in the front yard. I want to touch that baby bump again, but I’m content to see it from a safe distance. She’s not at all one to panic or be fearful. It’s VERY telling when her response to my fear is, “I’m scared, too.” She’s off until Monday morning at 7am. She’s bracing herself for a big increase in cases when she goes back Monday morning. I hope they have more PPE soon. Lisa
titian1 10b Sydney
4 years ago
Lisa, I'd been wondering (worrying) what you were worried about (you mentioned something a few days ago), and I'd totally forgotten about your daughter being a nurse - and in ICU. What a huge worry. So stressful for you all. I just read that an anti-parasitic drug killed the virus in the lab in 48 hours. Now they have to work out what dose is suitable for humans. Yes, I hope they have more protective gear soon too. It seems crazy that a wealthy country like the US should be short. But demand is unprecedented and so much is made in China. Here there is ship stacked with it that the wharfies are refusing to unload, as it hasn't been at sea for the mandatory time.
Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
4 years ago
Lisa, it gets a whole lot more frightening when someone you care about is in the sights of the virus. I hope your daughter and her child come through this safely. And you.
ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
4 years ago
I haven't been worried for myself because California is a fairly low-risk area (for now) but have been concerned for an Italian friend who is in the midst of it in the hardest-hit area of northern Italy. The daily death count there is finally decreasing, but now it's way up in Spain and ours is rising daily. However, it's all relative as it's still very minimal compared to the many other ways that people die every day to which we pay scant attention. My heart goes out to the medical workers at the front lines (which of course includes Lisa's daughter), but especially those in the hardest-hit areas like Italy and Spain where doctors are having to decide who lives or dies depending mostly on their age and their chances of survival. We're living in unprecedented times, and what I hate most is the surreal feeling that seems to permeate every thought and action throughout the day. It's also the knowledge that the economy of many countries, including ours, will be in a shambles when this is all over. I've felt for the last two years that the world is heading toward a precipice from which there is no turning back, and this virus in my mind has only increased the momentum. At the same time, no matter what the final outcome, and no one can predict it with certainty, we are given each and every day to make the best of it that we can. In that way happiness is in our own hands, and if we have some furry creatures and a garden of roses to help us along the way, then we are indeed fortunate.

o/t... paranoid... petrified.. and pessimistic...

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o/t... paranoid... petrified.. and pessimistic...

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