Hey Y’all! If you don’t follow us on Instagram, (ahem @growingmemoriesflowerfarm) and haven’t heard, we’ve got some big news. We got a puppy!
We’re thrilled to introduce the newest member of our Growing Memories Flower Farm family: Tulip, our delightful German Shorthaired Pointer mix! Let me start by saying we were not looking to add a puppy into our crazy schedule, but it seems the universe had other plans. I guess you could say that I found myself in the RIGHT place at the WRONG time, and if you don’t know this about me already, I’ve got a BIG soft spot for dogs.
So, there I was, getting out of my truck, groceries in hand just minding my own business when my neighbor walked up to me with an armful of floppy ears and puppy dog eyes. Naturally my heart melted, and as my neighbor and I talked I found out pretty quickly that this little girl needed a home. Fortunately, as luck would have it, I just so happened to HAVE a home and I mean come on y’all, what are the odds? (wink wink).
I told my neighbor to wait a few minutes while I took her in to meet Brisket (our dog), to see if he would be okay with a new puppy. I headed inside with my groceries AND the adorable ball of fur. Brisket was everything you would expect him to be. Shocked, curious, excited, probably pissed, and a little confused. But after a few minutes it was already clear that overall, he was going to tolerate the little rascal. And if I’m being honest, I was 99% sure I WASN’T going to bring that puppy back out to my neighbor after I carried her through our gate. So far so good, the only thing left to do… was to tell Ryan. The phone call went a little like this:
Me: Hey! You almost home?
Ryan: Should be home in a bit, what’s up?
Me: Oh nothin’… there is a puppy in the house.
Ryan: … why is there a puppy in the house?
Me: Well, you see, the thing is…
I made my case and luckily for me, Ryan is one heckuva guy and with very little convincing Tulip got to stay.
From the moment Tulip set her tiny paws on the farm, she has been a whirlwind of energy and curiosity. Her signature floppy ears (one of which has a little bend at the tip, SO. DANG. CUTE.) and goofy antics have been quite entertaining. So far, one of Tulips favorite things to do is unfortunately, chase the shovel. I think it took me twice the amount of time to get one of our flower beds ready for planting because she was happy to stand in every spot where I was preparing to thrust the shovel into the ground. Cute? Absolutely! A bit maddening? Yes siree, but it’s one of those things you’ve just got to laugh about. Despite constantly tripping over her and having to retrieve my stolen gloves, Tulip’s enthusiasm has been infectious and reminds me that even the hardest of farm chores can be turned into a game.
Tulip has come into our lives just as the spring flowers are beginning to sprout. Which is kind of how she got her name, it’s only fitting since she lives on a flower farm. But she also got her name because for some reason, she reminded me of that character Orphan Tulip in the animated movie Storks. Clumsy, cheerful, not very helpful, but nonetheless happy to be here!
As for the actual tulips, we’ve got dozens of little sprouts poking out of the ground signaling the arrival of our gorgeous blooms. Tulips are a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings and are in my opinion the best remedy for that yearly spring fever. There is an enchanting allure that tulips give that is hard to ignore. Their beautiful colors, some bold and some soft, paired with that unforgettable fresh scent is like capturing magic. If you are looking to bring some springtime charm into your home, a bouquet of tulips will do just that.
In true Texas fashion, our February weather has been less than predictable with temperature fluctuations of epics proportions. I’m talking 84 degrees one day followed by 34 the next. It’s this kind of Mother Nature trickery that makes planting any type of flower difficult, but especially the spring bulbs. The confusion is real, the warm weather tells the tulips to grow, grow, grow and then those super cold snaps tell them to slow, slow, slow. And this, my flower friends, makes it damn near impossible to know when those stunning tulips with be ready to share with y’all. I must always remember to give myself some grace when I end up being wrong about when the tulips will start to bloom because no matter how much I wish I could, I can’t control the weather. And most importantly I am always reminding myself to be patient, the tulips will get here when they are good and ready and no matter when that is, the timing will be perfect. After all, nature knows best.
As always, we are incredibly grateful for your continued support. Without you, our flower loving friends, neighbors, and community there would be no farm, and we wouldn’t have the opportunity to share the beauty and happiness that our flowers bring into your homes and lives. I am a firm believer that flowers have the power to change our lives for the better, they bring joy when sadness consumes, express love when words are lost and help create memories for all the special moments both big and small.
Along with the flowers, I hope that y’all will continue following along on this journey, as we watch Tulip grow, explore, and become the wonderful flower farm dog we know she will be.
Cheers to Tulips, Tulip, and also Ryan! February is his birthday month so if you see him, give him a big ole’ HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
“In the dance of life, let the tulip be your partner, teaching you the steps of resilience and the rhythm of renewal.” — Vincent van Gogh
