Watts Consulting

More than you ever wanted to know about Alabama native Joe Watts

flowers

My Growing Obsession

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Okay, I admit it. I’m a little obsessive about these flowers. So far I’ve counted 21 individual iris blooms about to pop out. It will probably take another week or so for them to really start showing. This is up from about 15 yesterday–I think the rains last night coupled with the sunny day today have really helped the growing cycle.

Last year, I think we had about 12 blooms (some of the stalks have multiple blooms on them, but I only count them as one flower). I was especially obsessed with the iris blooms last year, but so far, this year doesn’t seem that different. I can really feel close to my mother when I’m outside looking at those green leafy blooms about to open. Purple was Mama’s favorite color, so it is only fitting that most of my irises are purple. (For those of you who don’t know, the irises, along with many of my other flowering bulbs and rhizomes have been dug in Octagon, Alabama over the past 3+ years at Mama’s (Inez Hinson). It is especially exciting to see them growing–of all the plants I’ve dug from Octagon, Alabama, the irises have thrived most. We do have some day lillies that appear to be doing very well.)

Flowers from Octagon, Alabama

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From a recent trip to Octagon. I’ve planted hundreds of the daffodils, but none of the snowdrops in Birmingham, yet. I think I’ll try to change that once it is time to dig bulbs again.

First Flowers

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I’m really excited this morning as I can look outside and see the fruits of my labor beginning to bloom. The jonquils and hyacinths are starting to bloom. I planted the jonquils shortly after Christmas 2006 and got a few blooms last year. This year, there are many more getting ready to bloom, but this is the first. The hyacinths were planted this Christmas and I’m pretty sure that all their blooming energy was stored from last year at Mama’s house.

All the bulbs that I’ve planted in our front, back and side yards (well over 600) have come from Octagon–I really feel a little closer to home and to Mama when I see them. I’ve been watching them closely every day since they poked their heads through the mulch and have been hoping that they would bloom this year.

Family Matters

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If you haven’t guessed, I’m in a bit of a mood about family and sticking together. Here’s what I think of as the perfect example of one of the reasons family means so much to me. My sister, Cynthia, just sent me (and all the siblings) a photo from her yard:

I looked out my window this morning and saw something that made me smile!  I thought you all might like to smile too!  Yep, these are bulbs that came from Octagon about 18 years ago!  It’s the only one I see right now, but I’m sure there are more to come!


These flowers come from the same bulb stock that the many, many bulbs I’ve planted come from. Over the last 3 years, I’ve planted well over 500 of these bulbs (along with spider lilies, and irises and a few day lilies). What a warm feeling to know that a little bit of Octagon’s post oak mud has found the way to Birmingham to brighten my day. None of my bulbs are blooming yet, but hundreds are poking their little heads up out of the dirt. It is now only a matter of time.

And so nice to see that they are blooming and bringing all of our thoughts to home and family.

The Camillas Are Blooming

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Our camellias in the front yard are blooming as are the Daphne bushes. The Daphne bushes are amazingly fragrant. (If they were inside, my allergies would require them to be discarded, but they smell really nice by the front door.)

Many of the bulbs I’ve planted over the last two years or so are springing up. It shocks me to even think that spring is around the corner.

2007 was a blur. I’m looking forward to having a little time to stop and smell the flowers in 2008.