A steady breeze blew the tumbleweeds down the almost deserted street as the prison wagon pulled by 6 horses stopped in front of the sheriff's office. A fall chill was in the air, the sheriff stepped outside on to the wooden boardwalk to see who had just arrived in town. "Howdy sheriff ", the the stranger said in a low gravel voice. "I have captured the Geranium Gang, all 13 of them", holding a wanted poster up in his hand so the law man could see. The bounty hunter motioned toward the wagon, "I snuck up on them when they were asleep." Wanted Poster ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) The wagon looked quite full as the gang members stared out at the sheriff from between the thick heavy bars. Slowly the town folk filtered into the street to see the infamous Geranium Gang. The sheriff called his deputies out and they escorted the prisoners inside the jailhouse. Behind bars at the jail ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) G. Whitey, G. whitey, G. Red, G. REd, G. ReD, G. RED, G. rEd, G. rED, G. red, G. reD, g. RED and g. red The sheriff sent one of the deputies to the telegraph office to notify the circuit judge that the gang had been captured and a trial was needed. The judge arrived the next day on the noon stage, The local newspaper, The Garden Journal printed a special edition, the trial was scheduled for the next day in the saloon and they needed jurors. That day a jury of 3 Daisies, one rose, 4 Marigolds and 4 Petunias filled the jury flower box in the saloon. The bar was closed during the trial, the crowd was getting thirsty. A Dandelion was the defense lawyer and the district attorney was a young Raspberry fresh out of nursery law-school. Some in the audience said that the Dandelion kept hearing lawnmowers. It was a short trial. The jury returned a verdict of guilty in less than an hour. The bar was soon opened and the judge bought drinks for everyone. "Water for everyone" the judge yelled. " We hang them tomorrow, by their feet till spring!!." The crowd cheered. The next morning the gang was brought to a large barn. Ropes hung from one of the rafters. The gang was hung at noon. Spring was a long way away. Hanging till Spring ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) Each spring the Geranium gang is set free in hopes they have repented. Most town flowers think it is a lost cause but each year they keep trying. What did you do with your Geranium gang? Maybe next year, Jerry
Cute Jerry. I pulled a few of mine and put them in the greenhouse. They are just getting beautiful, but mostly I start new ones every year. I have about 600 seeds started out in the greenhouse right as I type....
Jerry, when I lived "up north" where law and order thrived, I'd hang geraniums each fall, and then replant (bury?) them in the spring. Here in Texas, where we are wild and wooly, I just take cuttings (scalps?) and overwinter them in the barn.
What a clever posting, mate! I liked this one a lot. I appreciate your foto work and text.--What's NOT to like. Well done, you.
I don't have a lot of room to over-winter plants. My small greenhouse is housing a Trailing Mexican Petunia, Creeping Charlie and Queen's Tears and they fill it up. I enjoy them until the first freeze takes them down then buy new next Spring. Sometimes our winters are mild enough for them to last several weeks longer than usual but they are typically so worn out and tired looking by then that they die in Spring.
Okay, I learned something new. I thought geraniums were just the plants you found for sale outside the grocery stores every Spring. I didn't realize you could pull the roots and regrow (or repent 8) ) them. Hmmmm.... <--- V having a gardening thought.
