Dick's Hideaway

Dick MacKenzie - www.dickshideaway.com

Just shoot me

Yay ! Yay ! Yay ! I have finally defeated my 20 year curse of frosting out my initial spring garden planting. I’ve had the uncanny ability to plant my treasures the day before the season’s last frost for 20 consecutive years. I’m a faithful garden centre customer, replacing all my plants late in the game.
This year I wizened up. Arriving at camp Friday with all my gems in boxes taped up to protect from wind on the boat ride, I placed them on the deck and continued to monitor the weather forecast. Despite temptation to set the beautiful little plants in the ground, I bit my lip and damn near chewed my arms off, resisting. “Not gonna get me this year, Devil.”
By morning I was proud of my decision (it didn’t frost overnight, nor has the frost reared its ugly presence since) but I still had all my plants in fine condition ready to go.
Later, in the Palace with fine wine and a nice cigar, contemplating the afternoon planting, and dreaming of the August bounty, I was suddenly treated to one of life’s most spectacular nature shows. The hail came down like a December snow blizzard, driven sideways with ferocious winds, to cover everything in sight. A friend emailed a picture of his fresh gin and tonic topped with a scoop of hail ice. It was an event to behold. I was charmed.
Suddenly, with clenched teeth and an eye roll, “My plants, “ I shouted, remembering. 
This week I was back in the garden centre. I could imagine the leftover plants on the makeshift shelves talking among themselves as I tiptoed quietly down the aisles, “MacKenzie’s garden ? Just shoot me now.”