| My other world, where all is light and beautiful. | |
 | I mentioned before I am learning to do things in a different way, because it is necessary. I'd love to pick up each plant, clean it, pick off dead blossoms and water them. (I am guilty of talking to them as well). I can no longer work like that, just extending my arms causes pain. Denis had a grooming table set up for me in a small basement room for my poodles. It now doubles as a work bench for my violets. |
| The other three walls are lined with my light gardens and shelves stocked with all the equipment necessary for my violets. Bending to pick up something from the bottom shelves is impossible. So we had to find a simple easier way to look after the plants on the lower shelves. The stands are homemade, welded steel, spray coated black with a paint that discourages rust. The shelves are wood over steel braces | |
 | The lights are suspended with chains so they are easily adjustable for height. If I take it easy I can look after the top and center shelves on my own. To look after the plants on the bottom shelves Denis pulls out entire trays and puts them on my work bench. I have a high backed swivel stool and work on these in a seated position, calling Denis when it is time to replace the trays. |
| When I am in my "other world" and full of soil on my face, hands and clothes, grit under my nails, bruises on my knuckles from rapping the bottom of the pots, time just seems to fly. If my body allowed I would spend all of my spare time in the "garden room". I seem to just get started when I find myself changing frequently from standing to a sitting position and back again. When this starts I must quit or suffer the consequences. | |
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| There are times I will go downstairs with intentions of potting up some violets, and not even do one! I must listen to the body signals or I will chance another set back which could keep me from my violets altogether for as long as six to eight weeks. If I am very lucky they last only three to four days but that is rare. During these times Denis subs for me. Now that I have totally converted to wick watering it is a simple matter for Denis to top up the trays with water. |
| Any other need must wait until I can return. I had just returned from one of my longer absences when we snapped these pictures. I certainly cannot complain about this can I? Oh there are leaves that should have been removed and blossom buds re-directed, others re-potted but all in all I have not lost any plants! I have my help mate to thank for this. He is so appreciated. | |
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| This was our answer to our "trays" or "reservoirs" for the homemade light gardens. The violets are in what I call basket trays that come with plants you buy from the nurseries, with their wicks dangling through the holes. The white water proof trays are propagating trays I purchased from Dominion seed house. The black objects in the bottom are one and three/quarter inch pieces of round plastic pipes, to support the basket trays above the water. Five rings altogether, one for each corner and one in the center. |
| Also in the photo are the pails filled each evening with HOT water, and left to cool to room temperature before using. Though it has never actually been tested Denis and I both believe the hot water would have less chlorine etc. and once cooled off be better, faster than cold water left to warm to room temp. | |
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