I KNOW THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE LURE of the garden pulls me outdoors before I change out of my PJs, before I brush my hair, without washing my face. It’s that powerful and seductive a force, indeed, especially with the lawn greening up right now, all verdant and provocative. But I have to say, my dear Andre Jordan, I try to make certain I have my trousers on. Do I sense a pattern in your doodles, a theme of how alcohol figures into horticulture in The Garden According to Andre (and no, I don’t mean for sterilizing pruners):
- There was something about “dandelion wine” and a flight of stairs…
- He asserted this one was for medicinal purposes only. Hmmm….
- And he also named alcohol–vodka, I believe–on the list of required gardening gear.
- I don’t think there’s any explaining away what happened in this one. Hiccup!
As ever with Andre, perhaps it’s best to simply say: Cheers!
Haha! I’ll confess that I often wear my jammies with my barn boots when I scoot out to feed the chickens in the morning. But mowing…at least he has boots on!!
I’m reading your book, Margaret…getting to know you!
Thank you for starting my gardening day off with laughter!! Just one more thing I have to check before I head outside….
This makes me think about the state of things here in South Texas.
My house is a total wreck!
My kitchen needs mopping, the living room dusting, the game room looks like a bomb went off in there and I don’t even want to get into the state of the bathrooms. (The “garden” of mold growing in my shower is quite impressive actually, botanically speaking, of course)
With so much to do outside, the “lure” (perfect word, Margaret-love the book by the way) of the garden keeps me out all day long during my precious weekend days off from the job. After the sun goes down it’s time to turn on the garden lights, have a cold one (cheers, Andre) and marvel at the beauty of the springtime.
Oh woe is the state of the house. How in the world do you clean the bathroom from the garden?
……anybody else have this problem?
Welcome, Shirley. You are one very funny woman. I think I have some Science Fair Projects in the fridge at the moment…but don’t tell anybody. :)
Welcome, Meredith. Hope you enjoy the book (and yes, I guess you will learn a lot of things about me…I wasn’t too private now, was I?). Here’s to jammies and Wellies and life outside the city.
Well, a good morning that must have been! Here’s hoping the neighbors have a sense of humor!
yesterday someone mowed their lawn here – I was quite excited – went and looked at our mower – but then it began to snow again. sigh
That’s why there is a mirror hanging beside my garden door! We all need to check ourselves every so often. Perhaps some advice for Andre, the Mad Scribbler, as well.
Ha! I can relate… even this am while whipping up some morning coffee i spied a rather large dandelion that had popped up in my lawn by my patio that inspired me to tip toe out in boxers and bare toes to remove the intruder. Of course upon its removal i spotted a literal trail of these leading deep into my large yard. By the time I looked up I was a good 300 ft from my back door and couldn’t feel my toes or hands. Still waiting to see if my neighbors have filed a police report of suspected streaking .. but goodness that coffee was good stuff this am!
Welcome, Ian. I have phoned it n tot he local police over by your place. Don’t try it again — they will be watching! (And I know how it happens…just one step, and then another, and another…) :) See you soon.
I was out in my bathrobe this morning and my neighbor drove out of their driveway so I got caught. But my frit seed that I chucked in a bed one year germinated and now are blooming so it was worth it.
I too have crept outside in questionable garments (usually of the night time theme)
but I’m usually covered…..I think. Thank you Andre for a hysterically funny doodle.
I think this Andre cartoon is tame, compared to some of the ADULT topics he has illustrated in his book “Heaven knows I’m Miserable Now”, which I won through this web site.
Margaret, with the RIGHT Andre Jordan cartoon, you could elevate A Way to Garden from a “G” rating to an Adult “R”. It would bring in a whole new fan base to AWTG.
Each Andre Jordan cartoon makes me laugh!! Love them
Love it! Striped socks & boots? ABSOLUTELY ! ! !
Undergarments and or trousers? Eh, maybe . . . .whatever. . . .
Andre is certainly in a micro-zone warmer than mine!
I read Shirley’s comment the first time with sleepy eyes and I thought she was calling you “Margaret, love”. (“perfect word, Margaret-love the book by the way”) I actually know someone named Margaret Love.
This makes me think of a video of an elderly woman who often gardened in the nude. She also had a knack for planting potatoes by just scattering them in her garden and sprinkling them with a cover of hay. Did I see this on your blog?? Do you know where I can find it?
Welcome, Margaret. I think you mean Ruth Stout’s “no-work garden” style (which I guess at times was also no clothes!). My story is here, but the great old videos have since been taken offline by their copyright holder, who apparently changed their minds about sharing them.