I didn't understand why in the world we would need to make our beds when we were just going to sleep in them again that night. I vowed that when I grew up, I would never tell my children 'because I told you so.' Being forced to eat whole grain bread was cruel and unusual punishment (and let's not even talk about spinach). And I certainly didn't understand how anyone could stand to watch that many episodes of the extremely boring home improvement show 'This Old House'.
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Our differences also stretched to the garden. Those blue Hydrangeas that my mom loved? I informed her that blue flowers and green leaves do NOT match. Irises? Pretty flowers, but those leaves are too poky-looking. And in the fall when she bought Ornamental Kale, I thought they were the ugliest plants alive. Who in the world would buy a plant that looks like it should belong in (ugh) a salad?
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Of course, now that I am grown up, my tastes have changed. I love Hydrangeas and blue flowers of any kind. I find myself looking for the types of Irises that my mom used to grow when I was young. My dislike of Ornamental Kale, however, held out for quite some time...
...until this year when I was looking for something to fill a fall-blooming container.
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Well, since planted the Kale has edged out most of the pansies and pushed a little Juniper to the side in its quest for Gigantic Awesomeness. And you know what? I find that I don't mind a bit. In fact, I wonder how in the world I could dislike this plant for so long.
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Oh, the brilliant fall color! The beautifully veined leaves!
And after a frost? Divine!
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So I do apologize to my mother for criticizing her planting choice for so long. I am now off to go lie on my neatly made bed and watch some home improvement television after feeding my kids a healthy supper that included whole grains.
Hey, at least I didn't serve them spinach.
More proof that I am still young. I don't feed my kids wheat (balloon bread rocks!), I don't like ornamental kale, and I do like blue flowers (oh no! is it starting!) Well, great post!
ReplyDeleteHa! Well, you will know you're in trouble when you start admiring ornamental kale ;)
DeleteUh huh, it happens. We turn into our mothers! No hope for our daughters. But I think I've always enjoyed the beauty of Ornamental Kale--I just didn't plant any until this year. Yours are stunning, especially with the frost...
ReplyDeleteThank you! It will be interesting to see what happens with my oldest daughter - she's a mini clone of my husband! Hopefully at least the love of gardening will stick!
DeleteI like to eat kale but i don't get the appeal of the ornamental. Never got in the habit of making my bed either except when company is visiting.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed I even bought an ornamental kale, as I disliked them so much. But I warmed up to it!
Deletehaha - it happens to all of us - turning into our mothers, I mean. I hear myself saying "Because I said so" and thinking that I sound just like my mother! The kale is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI really do try not to say that phrase, but it slips out! And with very inquisitive and rather mischievous young kids, I find myself wanting to use that phrase a lot!
DeleteThe kale looks great frosted. It seems make for that display. Not having kids, I never would find out if I was to become my mother to them. Funny how things come back around.
ReplyDeleteI think I prefer the kale with frost on it - so pretty!
DeleteIndie,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this posting and I know exactly what you mean. My dad the worlds slowest driver, long lines of car behind him where ever he went. I'm pretty slow these days too.
It's so funny how we become more and more like our parents as we get older, even after swearing we would never do so!
DeleteI like seeing kale in other people's gardens, and it looks great in containers. There is something a little too neat and organized about it though. My kids have always thought I was neurotic about fruits and vegetables, but now the older two, 22 and 23, are devoted fans---my pserverance paid off.
ReplyDeleteHopefully my perseverance will pay off as well! My mother's seems to have :)
DeleteYou picked a gorgeous color of ornamental kale. I have my regulation winter mix of ornamental kale and pansies in the front yard garden right now. Yes it's a cliche, but it's colorful and cheery and beats a bare garden bed any day. If you let the kale flower in March or April, the early bees and butterflies will thank you.
ReplyDeletePS - I became my mother years ago, so welcome to the club!
I do love the purple in this kale! It's so great to have some color when most everything is turning brown. I'll definitely let it flower - I used to think the only good thing about ornamental kale was the spring flowers!
DeleteIt's funny, I had a blue hydrangea phobia for years. I use to call them old lady flowers. Then I moved and had a garden that was too shady for most plants to bloom. I tried a hydrangea, and it bloomed so reliably every year, I planted three more! Sometimes Mothers do know best ;) Ornamental kales were a never a favorite either, but you can't help but appreciate the color they bring to a late season garden. I love the photo with the frost!
ReplyDeleteI only have a white hydrangea, but I wish I had room for more! I really do love them now. I even find myself liking arrangements with dried hydrangea flowers (which was another thing my mother did that I hated!)
DeleteIndie - what a cute post!! Youthful rebellion is all part of growing up (you have girls, right??You just WAIT!!) but the interesting thing is how time changes our perspective on so many things. Your Mama is probably secretly smiling about all your changed attitudes. And your blog readers and fans benefit because we get to see stunning photographs of the most lovely ornamental kale I've seen in a long time!! Thx!
ReplyDeleteOh no, I'm already worried after seeing some of the attitude and rebellion I deal with from my little kids. I'm scared of when they turn into teenagers! Though hopefully, in the end, they'll become more like their mother, right? ;)
DeleteWe are so influenced by our moms...I love your examples...I have never thought I would behave like my mom or use her phrases but oh boy do I :)
ReplyDeleteIt's always a little scary when I find myself saying some of the same things my parents used to say! Some of these phrases have probably been passed down for generations!
DeleteWhat a lovely post Indie, ornamental kale is such a nice and colourful addition to the winter garden. I have tried them several years, with various colours.
ReplyDeleteAs for turning into your mother, I think I had a rather unusual childhood, with slightly rebellious parents who still do as they please in most ways. I am the one nagging both them, and also my 26 year old son to eat their greens and get enough fibre, take their multivitamin tablet and please be more careful with alcohol...yes, applicable to all 3, all of the above – so not sure who I have turned into over the years!
My father was always a little rebellious (and usually managed to avoid my mother's efforts to get him to eat whole grains!) I couldn't really imagine either of my parents taking motherly advice from me, though - that's a lot of responsibility!
DeleteWhen you get a bit older, and your parents get older that reversed role sadly becomes a natural process for most parents/children, I just think I have started a bit earlier than usual. My parents are in their 70s.
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