Health & Fitness

Phloxy Lady

Is phlox your garden's cute little heartbreaker?

As I was walking around my hometown the other night, attempting to get some "exercise," I couldn't help but notice this gorgeous display of phlox outside a home. 

It was incredible — all the colors of regular creeping phlox, and a vivid hot pinkish color I hadn't seen before, and it had this lush creeping quality that was stunning. I stopped to admire it and said to myself, "How come my phlox doesn't look like this?" 

Take a look at the picture. Clearly, my phlox is not lush. I mean, it's nice and all. But it's not... lush. It is sort of a cute little heartbreaker. Hah, see what I did there? 

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As I was admiring the gardener's phlox, the homeowner pulled into the driveway. I almost ran right up to the car, exclaiming, "Your phlox is totally awesome! How do you do it?! TEACH ME!"

But it was about 7 p.m. and I stopped myself, thinking, This person probably has had a long day at work and really doesn't want some strange lady running up to them and screaming gibberish about their "totally awesome phlox."   

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Do you stop homeowners when you see a nice display of flowers and talk to them about gardens? Or do you admire from afar? Should I go back and talk phlox with these people? 

This post also appeared on my personal site: DanielleMastersonBooks.com.


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