We had a nice t-storm last night, so I'm headed out to the cemetary to plant the stones for this weekend. My parents and grandparents are together, and the upright stone is in full sun. I plant both sides of that stone, so two minigardens of annuals, probably petunias and maybe zinnias, and some gloriosa daisies for the late summer. My aunt planted sedums at either end of the stone, so I'll prune them back and fertilize, and they'll be bushlike by August. They've been there about 10 years and haven't grown too big yet.

My great-grandparents are in another cemetary, with the stone backed by a stone wall and in shade. Impatiens go there, and alyssum. The lily of the valley pops up wherever it can survive the lawnmower. There's lichen on that stone, and I haven't scrubbed it off. Eventually, it might cover the lettering, I suppose, but they say lichen only grows where there's clean air, and I kinda like seeing it there.

I keep meaning to go back in midsummer to collect irises from some of the overgrown graves. This year they'll be in full bloom for Memorial Day. I do like the single-color old-fashioned sort best.