I’m not so sure that three’s a crowd, but it is cozy.
The two rhodos that are blooming just now in this photo are “rescue rhodos.” My neighbour had planted them next to the roadway but they were constantly being uprooted by deer who pulled them out, thinking they would be tasty. The deer left the plants lying on the soft sandy soil when they discovered the flavour was not what they had hoped.
I picked up the uprooted rhodos as I came along the end of our drive and brought them to the neighbour’s house so they could replant them (hopefully elsewhere). But they just flung them aside.
So after trying three times to give the rhodos a new life, I took the next ones home and tried to revive them myself. I stuck them in water and then found a good spot for them, next to an Alberta spruce.
Now, something over 20 years later these tiny plants have turned into giants. They have grown into each other’s space and the two rhodos and the spruce are huddled together. They stand together against the wind and the rain and cold. They are the survivors.
The Survivor Group
We once were unloved castaways,
Our time was numbered then in days,
But now we live, and love the sun,
We each feel we’re the lucky one.
The spruce has been our constant friend,
He braces us against the wind,
He keeps the coldest ice from us,
And shields us both without a fuss,
In turn we share our food with him
And water if supply is slim.
We’re all survivors in this group,
Which makes us such a happy troop.
We like each other’s company,
For friends we three shall always be.
Please take a minute to visit my other blog for a comment on Jill Weatherholt’s book, A Father for Bella. Click on the link: https://annelisplace.wordpress.com/2019/05/27/a-father-for-bella/
May 27, 2019 at 12:23 am
I love rhodos and yours are beautiful. How great that they all grew up together. 🙂
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May 27, 2019 at 5:41 am
I’m happy whenever I look at them, to think that they almost didn’t make i t and now they’re doing great.
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May 27, 2019 at 12:44 am
Beautiful!
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May 27, 2019 at 5:42 am
They thank me every year.
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May 27, 2019 at 2:03 am
Reminds me of my own life-story 🙂
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May 27, 2019 at 5:43 am
You’re a treasure that grew up into something beautiful.
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May 27, 2019 at 5:35 am
Your rhodos are absolutely beautiful, Anneli. Thank you for your review of A Father for Bella. It was a nice surprise. 🙂
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May 27, 2019 at 5:40 am
You’re welcome, Jill. I meant to get around to it much sooner, but life got in the way. I enjoyed the read. Bella is a real sweetie.
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May 27, 2019 at 6:46 am
Your post ‘proves’ my stance on the current phrase “Don’t just survive, thrive.” I hate it!
Instead I believe:
“Surviving IS thriving”
Just sayin’…
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May 27, 2019 at 9:15 am
Yes, and these rhodos are a good testament to that. Thanks, Laura.
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May 27, 2019 at 9:43 am
They look beautiful Anneli!
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May 27, 2019 at 1:04 pm
They really have surprised me with their size.
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May 27, 2019 at 10:35 am
Wow. It looks like you don’t have the deer in your yard trying to get at that bush. It’s gorgeous. I wish I had your green thumb. I just planted a row of flowers. We got a new patio and they left an aisle of dirt next to the house for us to use for sprucing things up. I’ve never planted a thing in my life, and I kill house plants. So, I hope those pretty guys I planted make it. 😛
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May 27, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Just water the plants and they’ll grow. These rhodos have never had anything but water. No special food, and rather poor soil, to tell the truth. We had to build a fence at last, so that has kept the deer out.
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May 27, 2019 at 11:35 am
Beautiful. I love all the color.
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May 27, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Tnx, Darlene. I look forward to their blooms every spring.
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May 27, 2019 at 11:58 am
Love the photos and the story too!
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May 27, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Thanks, Sonja. These rhodos were so small – maybe a foot high at the most.
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May 27, 2019 at 7:02 pm
What a beautiful success story!
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May 27, 2019 at 8:44 pm
I was just outside with the dogs and was looking back towards the house. Those rhodos almost blocked out the house, they’re so tall. I figure they must be about ten or twelve feet high. maybe more. And they’re just loaded in flowers this year. I’m so glad I saved them. They thank me every year.
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May 27, 2019 at 7:08 pm
They look so compatible! Anyone who can rescue deer molested rhodos and get them to thrive has a truly green thumb!
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May 27, 2019 at 8:42 pm
Or a good supply of water. 😉
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May 27, 2019 at 7:36 pm
Quite the success story! Lovely.
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May 27, 2019 at 8:42 pm
It was! Thank you.
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May 27, 2019 at 11:51 pm
Beautiful rhodos! Mine is over 20 years old and was always full of blooms. But last year all the blooms got black and this year he only has a few blooms – makes me cry to look at it.
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May 28, 2019 at 8:30 am
Do you think it was the cold weather? Maybe it will recover. I hope it will.
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May 28, 2019 at 9:09 am
It was more the very dry spring last year. And the year before it was too hot, too early and dry as well. And we had now water to spare for watering the garden. I hope it recovers again. Maybe next year its better?
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May 28, 2019 at 10:24 am
Let’s hope so. That’s what gardeners do, isn’t it? Hope for better luck nekstscheer.
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May 31, 2019 at 3:45 am
Rescued rhodos – I love it. I’m a little embarrassed, because I got teary eyed, thinking of these discarded pieces of garden life. You are a wonder and a goddess to them. To me, too. ❤
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May 31, 2019 at 8:35 am
They have thanked me so much and so often. I love looking at them. They are so tall now that I can see them as I look straight out the second floor window. I’m glad you feel this way about the rhodo-rescue. It tells me you’re a good person.
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June 1, 2019 at 5:13 am
You inspired me yesterday: I took some photos of my daughter’s rhodos (full and luscious) with bees buzzing all over them. 🙂
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June 1, 2019 at 9:27 am
This is when you use the zoom a little bit so you don’t have to get too close. I don’t like to upset bees.
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May 31, 2019 at 5:56 am
Gorgeous! They speak of both strength and beauty.
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May 31, 2019 at 8:30 am
They do. Thanks, Jennie.
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May 31, 2019 at 3:08 pm
You’re welcome, Anneli.
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