Gorgeous Geraniums

Geraniums make beautiful additions to any windowsill or balcony. They love to bask in the sun in warm weather. I’m not sure they do well as an indoor plant. I don’t remember ever seeing one indoors, except at winter time. I just love how our back porch looks with the gorgeous red petals fluttering in the breeze. And, they come in a variety of colors and variegation.

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Picture Credit: Miraclegro.com

It’s interesting how legends grow, isn’t it? There are those in Palestine who claim the geranium grew under the cross as well as the graves of those who died in the Holy Wars. They call the geranium “blood drops of Christ”.

In another legend, Muslims tell us that Prophet Mohammad went to the mountain to pray. When he got back, he was quite sweaty and took off his shirt. He saw a mallow plant and hung his shirt on it to dry. The Prophet was so pleased by how well the plant held his shirt up to the sun, he covered it with velvety red petals.

Did you know the geranium supposedly also has medicinal properties? The leaves can be used for a tea that can either be drunk or used as a compress for pain relief. I know people who use a few drops of geranium essential oil in a bottle of water to ward off insects, particularly mosquitos. Just spray it on the skin and it works magic against the blood-sucking little blighters. I’ve been told that having geraniums growing on a deck, porch, or patio will help to keep mosquitos away. It didn’t work last year, so I plan to double my planting this Spring!

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I hope you’re enjoying your spring. Are you planting anything? Share with us!

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About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
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2 Responses to Gorgeous Geraniums

  1. jaysquires's avatar jaysquires says:

    I just wish geraniums had a better fragrance. Apparently they don’t to mosquitoes, either.

    A little springtime story. I purchased a compost container through Amazon about 3 years ago. I have been dutifully filling it with shredded paper, coffee grounds, various vegetable skins and the like, knowing that when I was ready for it, I would have some lovely composted mulch. I put it in the back yard between two trees and away from the neighbors nostrils and let it do it’s magic. Yesterday, I opened the little gate at the bottom where it would be the most seasoned. I wanted to spread it around my new tomato plants. Well … I couldn’t even get the shovel to penetrate the compost through that gate. What I hadn’t anticipated was that the tree roots found a delightful place for daily nutrition. Some of the roots are big around as my thumb!

    Happy gardening,

    Jay

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ol' Big Jim's avatar Ol' Big Jim says:

      Weirdo extraordinaire that I am actually enjoys the acrid fragrance of the geranium.
      I love the compost story! I would’ve loved to have seen the roots invading it! Mother Nature never stops surprising and delighting us, does she?

      I bought a “compost maker” last year. Rather small and something like a tombola. It didn’t make much more than a shovelful of compost. Now, I’m in the process of building a compost heap using old pallets.

      Thanks for your continued support, Jay!

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