Mabel the Geranium

10 years ago an elderly farm wife gave me her special geranium that she had had for years. When she gave it to me, it was similar to a small tree. It was about 4 feet high and was covered with red blooms.

Mabel was aging badly and was trying to downsize her household so she could move around easier in a walker.   I was gifted with several plants, some refrigerator magnets (all cows of course) and some old farm magazines.   I cherish them all.

Mabel ended up in a nursing home.  I visit her on my travels to the southern part of the state.
I moved north to a busy farming community and I brought all my plants including my huge "Mable" geranium.   Unfortunately, a box in my truck fell over on my plants and crushed several of them, including Mabel.     I had to start all over and trim the broken branches and try to re-pot them.
I have a huge bay window in my upstairs hallway and here is where this special plant lives during the snowy winters and cool spring days.  She recovered well from her moving accident and soon her blooms took up the entire window space.

This summer I brought Mabel outside and planted her in a big old maple stump in the front yard.

She loved it and doubled her usual bloom output.

I water, weed and fertilize her and she has many visitors.

The hens come down every day and eat bugs and flies.

 

 My blonde hen Marlyn wants a geranium on her front porch.

I just might put one there.

Have you got geraniums and whats your favorite variety ?
~