Still putting bushels of Brunnera macrophylla (read that last name as: large leaved), on the compost pile - also - annual (biennial?) Forget-me-Nots. I tried to give them away, but found no takers.
Also, offered a couple of tiny redbud trees in small pots. We've been digging dozens of them, of different sizes, and throwing them on the compost pile, too. Seems a shame, but the birds plant them all over the place. Way far too many from Nature's abundance.
The Brunnera (pronounced brun-air'-ea) is also known by several old descriptive names such as: perennial Forget-Me-Not, and Anchusa myosotidiflora; because its blue flowers look like the Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis).
They make airy drifts of blue in springtime. (See blue haze beyond steps in the distance below.) And, are especially pretty with spring bulbs.
But, have tiny little spines that get into the skin. Best ways I've found to get the invisible little things out is to plaster them with cellophane tape then pull it off. Even better: coat them with Elmer's glue, allow to dry, then pull it off. Usually, the spines go with it.
I get to attend a luncheon event this month. Hope the ladies don't look at my hands. Major help needed there.
I can't stand to wear gloves when I garden, except for extreme times and jobs. At such times, they are greatly appreciated. Grandchildren gave me a pair of Mud Gloves that are wonderful, coated with rubber and lined with warm fuzzy stuff. They were just what I needed for certain cold and wet jobs.
I used to wear gloves all the time, but I would shed them here and there as they impeded progress. Cannot abide them most of the time now, they slow me down too much. Besides, I love that therapeutic touch of the earth on my skin, probably just psychological. I don't care. I love it. But, it IS very drying to skin.
