I Miss My Wisteria

This time of a year is a little hard for me. The wisteria are in bloom, and I miss the gorgeous wisteria at our old house.

When we bought the house in 2004, the wisteria was just a baby. Nothing more than a puff partially covering the arbor.

One May—I think it was 2006 or 2007—it bloomed for the first time. I couldn’t believe it! The day I saw the flowers budding, I tore across the yard to inspect it. Was it really true? After that, I looked forward to every May for the lavender blossoms and subtle, sweet grape scent in the air.

Soon its gnarled wood stem began pulling the arbor to the ground, and the unruly tuft wound around everything it could grasp.

It became a magical little hideaway. A secret garden. I loved to look up through its leaves and feel like no one could see me hiding in my corner. (But I could see them!)

Even my son knew—early on—there’s something special about hiding under the wisteria.

Maybe we’ll plant one at our new house. Or maybe I’ll keep this one in my memory and give the new plants a fighting chance. Because as much as I love wisteria, it’s a difficult plant to manage.