Zinnia Garden

Zinnia Garden
Originally uploaded by linfrye

Daily Practice
Journal

Though it was another long and stressful day, we have a good number of students this year ... yahoo! For a long time, we've been mighty worried that the economy which adversely affects the green industry and thus our enrollment, may keep students from entering this field. Fortunately, as the economy seems to be improving, so too, do our enrollment numbers. I am ever so grateful!

This landscape is based on a photo reference and some imagination. I chose zinnias because of a visitor I had this weekend --- my farming friend, Tom. We met Tom and his wife, Irene, last year, when we purchased honey from their hives. They generously sent us home with corn, figs, tomatoes, and an armload of zinnias - Irene's favorite flower.

We learned that Irene had passed this spring, which saddened all of us. We purchased more honey this weekend, and spent some time with Tom. He told us that he's continuing his beekeeping operation, but because he had so many bees, he wanted to place his bees elsewhere so they could produce better. We quickly offered our property - filled with the tulip poplar trees he was looking for, and after his visit this weekend, Tom has agreed to keep some hives with us. WOWEE! I'm hoping to quietly observe and learn how things are done, but even more, I am thrilled to be able to contribute pollen and respite to the bees. Honey bees have been in decline for quite a number of years, and so if there is anything we can do to help with their survival, I'd like to be part of that. We've already planted clover for the bees, as well as pollen producing fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Thus, the zinnias -- to remember our sweet friend, Irene....

And for Tom ....

And hopefully, this time next year, hundreds of honeybees ...