Tuesday, September 1, 2026 The Death of the Petunias

~ Foodiness

Here lie the pitiful potted petunias that started life with such sparkle and optimism in May. ‘Tis no fault of their own that they have suffered an early demise.

I find it a joyful prospect to keep them watered in May and June. When July comes, I am slowing down in my enthusiasm. I might let a day slip by and get to the watering later in the afternoon, rather than in the morning. The petunias sense my lack of commitment and feel it keenly. Once or twice I might accidentally forget altogether and run out in the morning with water and abject apologies. But they know. They know my fickle heart.

By August, the petunias are becoming a weight on my soul. “What? You need water AGAIN?” I drag my feet and bring the watering cans to the hoses for refills. “Didn’t I just water you guys?” Even with consistent watering, they are showing their age. The bloom of youth is gone. They know it. I know it.

I usually rally and make sure they don’t die off until late September when it becomes more in the natural scheme of things. But a few days ago, I skipped a whole day of watering. The thought came unbidden: “I could just quit.” Okay, maybe it was bidden. Another day went by. “I should water them, shouldn’t I? What kind of person lets their flowers just die of thirst?” Another day. And another day. I guess I am that kind of person. I’m not proud of it, but the deed is done.

Here lie the dried-up petunias,
Dead before their time.
I confess that I did ruin ya,
Then I made a bad rhyme.

But just to cheer you up, there’s still lots of pizazz in the perennial garden where the flowers aren’t dependent on me. And the beetles are enjoying themselves a bit too much!

Here lies the dried up blog post
I’ll finish it off in the morning,
It’ll be just like dried up toast
Gone without much warning.

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Published by Foodiness

Too old to figure out how to start a blog; too young to give up entirely.

11 thoughts on “Tuesday, September 1, 2026 The Death of the Petunias”

  1. The poor petunias…I have a few potted plants that are looking like that for the same reason yours are. But the zinnias and Gerbera daisies are beautiful. It’s just how it goes. You still have some beautiful color in your perennial garden.

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  2. Oh my gosh, I laughed so hard because this is exactly how I feel! Your writing is so light and comedic that their eventual demise is amusing rather than shocking! I love reading your thoughts and insights…it reminds me of when you lived in New Ulm and advised me on home schooling. Can it really be 20 years ago? Thanks, again, for the splash of sunshine! Kris Trautloff

    >

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    1. A fellow plant murderer!! 😂 I’m glad others can relate to what I go through with my flower pots.

      Oh goodness, twenty years already? Those were good days. I’m so happy to hear from you.

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  4. The Whale and the Petunias Explained

    Brandon’s Notepad

    The Whale and the Petunias Explained

    I (Brandon) first read Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in high school. I find some of the plot points more memorable than others, but the one scene that always stuck with me was when a whale and a bowl of petunias “had suddenly been called into existence several miles above the surface of an alien planet.” The remainder of the scene is an internal dialogue by which the whale “comes to terms with its identity as a whale before it then had to come to terms with not being a whale any more” and having to do so in a very short period of time at that. Talk about an existential crisis! The only thought had by the petunias? “Oh no, not again.” Adam’s then explains that “if we knew exactly why the bowl of petunias had thought that, we would know a lot more about the nature of the universe than we do now.”

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  5. “Oh no, not again.” And, that’s exactly what your petunias thought as they died of thirst.

    … There’s more to petunias than you might think.

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