A Sudden Charlotte Hail Storm

Charlotte rainstorms are quite different from what we're used to in Michigan.  

Michigan thunderstorms are lovely things, usually coming at dusk with sudden spikes of impressive lightening and loud clashes of thunder that never fails to shake windows and scare small children and cats.  They come in the summer, not overly frequent, but usually impressive and longish lasting.

Here in Charlotte, they seem to slink towards us, either battered and beaten by the might of the mountains, or having already taken all their rage out on the wide open ocean.

They show up with thunder and darkness and sparks in the sky, rage for a few minutes to a half hour, and go away as quickly as they show up.

They're  also frequent visitors.  We have storms every couple of days, keeping the hot days from turning into hot nights, and keeping the Piedmont clay from getting too crispy.

So far, we enjoy the hail storms the best.  The boys love hanging off the patio trying to catch the hail.  Plus, it's fun catching ice on what was a formerly 80 degree day.

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Back From a Chilly, Rainy Week in Michigan

The boys and I went back to Michigan last week to hang out with my brother while he was home on leave from Afghanistan.  It was a lot of fun, chillin out in my old hometown with the fam, cooking out and drinking.  Of course there were other activities thrown in as well - I went to work, hung out with a couple other relatives, etc.

One of the things I wanted to accomplish was moving some of my more meaningful Michigan plants from the old house to my boss/friend's yard, where they could flourish until I have a place for them.

There are a lot of plants in here, including several roses, a big mountain daisy bush in the middle, chives and mint that are a couple generations old, winter and summer savory, lemon balm, lillies that my mom planted decades ago - representing a bouquet of flowers my dad bought her when he was deployed over seas, borage, and a few more meaningful plants.

I didn't have a camera, so I used the crappy one on my phone to take some shots.

I bet this spot will be gorgeous in a few years.  *sigh*



I miss my garden!  But I'm determined to get over it and move on.  What else can you do?  

I was out digging in pouring rain in a blue and gold dress, surrounded by poppies and roses and flowering sage and irises and so much more flora that I had spent hundreds of dollars and hours coaxing out of cold Michigan mud, feeling sorry for myself, when my neighbor friend came over.  She told me I looked like a garden fairy.  We chatted and laughed in the rain, and I offered plants like I have for years.

At least my mark on Grand Rapids isn't doomed to degenerate into wildness forever, given that at least half a dozen yards in the place have blooms originating from my tangled collection.  That makes me feel a little better:)

A few last shots from my former Leonard St. garden.

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The Community Gardens - or, a Reprieve from the Patio

One of the first things I did after moving was apply to local community gardens.  After I filled out a dozen applications and made a handful of phone calls, I ended up with 2 spots: one in the Assurance Church Community Garden (where the low-land muckishness of it invites crayfish to play amongst the veggies) and the Cook Community Garden (where I'm learning about Piedmont clay in all its dry red glory).

Assurance CG is by far my favorite.  This is it's second year, and it's just about everything you imagine a church garden would be.  There are a handful of plots for folks in the area (most of whom attend the church), but those are really just there to sucker you into working in the much larger community garden part.  You know - the one where you grow bushels of tomatoes, squash, corn, watermelons, etc., and send it all off to the food pantry.  

I really love it.  I run into all sorts of interesting people who have all been snared into doing one thing or another (like set up the sprinkler system or pound in stakes or run the tiller).  I love knowing that the work I'm doing is very directly helping a serious local need.  I haven't yet met a single snob, and I've gone home more than once with handfuls of produce just by virtue of being around to help.  Did I mention I love it there?

Cook CG is aesthetically more pleasing, but I don't really care for the spirit of the place.  They're all about the rules.  I had to sign about 10 waivers and assorted contractual weirdness, one for me and each family member who  *might* come by to help.  There are rules about everything:

• Chemical use: they want to stay organic, but you can use "organic" chemicals.
• Weed control: no landscaping fabric allowed - no, seriously!  But you can use hay... not that I would because of all the hay seeds in hay...
• The number of pots you can have at your spot: no more than two!!!
• What type of plants you can have: evil spreading oregano is outlawed unless in a pot, but mint in the ground is OK.  No, seriously.
• Even composting: you're not allowed to throw weeds in the compost bin.  I understand not wanting dandelion heads in the compost bin, but no weeds allowed at all?!  How do they keep their green content up?  Again, yeah... seriously.

It was thoroughly explained to me that this was a "community" space and so I was expected to interact with others, keep my kids under control, keep my weeds under control, spend 10 supervised hours a year in the donation garden, not touch the sprinkler system, and be friendly.  Even as the whole interaction itself was rather unfriendly and businesslike.

The whole thing reeks of the bourgeoisie "look at me, look at me, I'm growing things" mentality that seems to frame a lot of the recent green movement.  Most of the people, with two exceptions, are older (boomer age) 9-5ers with no kids.   My first "community" day there, I felt like a dark cloud over their sunny spot because I had two young boys who like the mud and were loud and chased butterflies.

Even though a big part of the plan was to start establishing friendships - at which I've failed miserably - the bigger plan (playing in the mud, growing things, and keep Quinn and I outside and active every morning) is clipping along nicely.  And I've got photos to prove it.  But not until tomorrow.  I have to go hunt out that darn cable...

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A Conundrum

So, as luck would have it, I'm moving to Charlotte, NC.

I'm very excited about the whole thing, really.  I look forward to living close to the ocean and in a reasonably warm climate again.  The gardens and sanctuaries there are amazing.  Plus - all the mountainous backpacking a girl could ever want within an hour's drive or so.

But...

I'll no longer be Michigan Mud girl. And since I'm moving to an apartment, relegated (at least temporarily) to community gardens, I won't even be much of a North Carolina mud girl.

Michigan Mud transplantee?  Does that sound like a good name for a blog?

Next up?  "Strange and horrifying things I found in the backs of cupboards and closets." 

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.  :D

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