September wedding

by Lorraine Hoag
(Live Oak, Ca.)

Granddaughter Erica wanted a 'Ranch Wedding' and could she please have it at our ranch. "Of course" we said. Then "how many do you expect to be coming way out here in the Sutter Buttes?" "Over 100 Grandma."

Oh dear.

September 26 is the date she chose and as it turned out it was the hottest day of the year at about 102. Kids worked hard the day before stringing up lights in the almond orchard (that was looking pretty sad after harvest) and setting up one long table right down the row. Dance floor brought in and set up under the huge Oak tree where the ceremony was to be.

They roasted a pig for pulled pork sandwiches and everyother type of food one could ask for.
It was wonderful. Hot but the evening was lovely. I don't know how Erica did it but the moon came up right at the end of the fifty foot long table.

Gorgeous.

Here is the gardening part.

I wanted my roses to be blooming in time for the wedding so I tried something I heard about on Bruce Asakawas radio show.

I pruned back most of my roses as if it was dormant time. No leaves, no nothing. Then fertilized the heck out of them. This done six weeks before the 26th of Sept. Well they looked beautiful with the colorful new growth on the 26th with lots of buds but nary a one blooming.

Today, Oct 8 they are blooming like crazy and I am loving it.

Lesson learned. Start seven or eight weeks earlier in order to get the bloom for the wedding day.

It works here in Northern California.
Regards,
Lorraine Hoag