But there are a few lighter moments along the way as well - things which make us laugh or touch our hearts or make us
appreciate the power of flowers to make a difference in someone's day - even our own! At last Saturday's market, in a Chicago suburb, a merry crowd of women had gathered around in my booth. They were chatting and having a good time selecting zinnias from about 8 buckets I had set out. Suddenly, out of the blue, came the cry of a little girl I could not even see. Caught up in the moment she joyfully exclaimed, "Happy Monday!" It was like verbal flower-petal confetti!

Anybody else have a recent happy tale, as a cut-flower grower, to share?

Well, it's a little silly thing, happened tonight. There I was, watering my TINY, straggly, very few suns, and I looked down at a couple and cursed. Some rabbit or grasshopper had gotten to at least 2 or 3 of them. Dang! I don't have that many!

I looked closer and suddenly remembered! These being my blooming-on-too-short-of-a-stem-"miniature"- Pro Cuts, THESE "eaten" ones were the ones I CUT the other day for a weekly bouquet!

Oh We-ellllll!

I did apologize, sorta, to the unseen rabbits and grasshoppers. This time!

Susi

Jeanne

Wendy

I grow all sorts of vegetables. Red, Yellow, Black, Orange,green tomatoes; green, white, purple, yellow cauliflower; pink, white, huge, etc radishes.

I was tired and was asked to bring a veggie platter to a dinner our family was invited to. I asked my son to pick some radishes while I picked peppers. "Where are they?" he asked. "In the bed with the green spikes" I said. (meaning the bed with the green posts that I used for support netting on my flowers) "Ok" he said.

I got busy picking the peppers. Here he comes back with a couple of lily stems with the large bulb pulled up in his hand all amazed at this radish. I told him that I planted some radishes in the lily bed after they were done flowering and that what he had in his hand was a flower bulb. All he said was "Oh, You told me to pick the green spikes and I just thought it was another of your weird vegetables."

Made me laugh!

It just so happened that a local TV station was recording in the market that day for National Farm Market Week. One of the shots on air that night was of these folks carrying all those flowers out through the market crowd. What great fun.

Also, the sale helped made the difference between a good day and a very good day!

Bryan