FLAP Garden 1Screenshot Perennials are blooming, robust, cold-tolerant and maintenance-free plants that survive more than two years (differentiating them from their short-lived annual and biennial counterparts). That’s us in a nutshell - the FLAP friendship is hardy, healthy, has survived 40+ years and continues to blossom. Perennials are key elements of both wildflower meadows and cultivar gardens, and I’d venture a guess that we’re split down the middle, two wildflowers and two cultivars ‘though I shan’t say which is which….

Yesterday, Frannie, Laura, Annie and I had our first visit in over two years.  It was glorious in every way imaginable!  Earlier this month we’d laid plans to meet at Presqu’ile on Monday, 11th July for a picnic and socially distanced visit.  The weather was perfection and, just like always, we picked up exactly where we left off.  Whilst there, Annie told me that she’s rereading Rosamunde Pilcher’s Coming Home — a mutual favourite — and I imagine that, just like my copy, hers is well-thumbed.  That’s a perfect analogy for the FLAP friendship - it’s like opening a favourite novel at a random page, but knowing exactly where you are in the tale.

We chose a shady spot on the south shore and sprawled out with picnic tables, chairs and blankets.  Food was passed around - fresh, sweet, tender peas from Annie’s garden, fresh veggies, cheese wedges, cherries and even a package of butter tarts from Annie (Shhhh!  Don’t tell Cam!!!).   We relaxed.  We laughed.  We munched.  We giggled.  We sipped.  We chatted.  Oh, how we chatted!  News was shared — about family visits (all the way from Saudi Arabia), kiddos with new houses, hubby retirements, new cars, a retired basketball coach going into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, health issues, moving plans, gardening, golfing, travel plans (to P.E.I. and to Switzerland), tales of golfing vacations in Scotland….  We happily and easily talked the afternoon away catching up; FLAP conversations are, bar none, the absolute best.  All the while we were closely observed by the ever hopeful, resident mooch:

FLAP Garden Mooch Even though our lives are dramatically different from our uni days, our hearts are strongly connected and nothing changes between us. These three women know me every bit as well as I know myself. They effortlessly personify familiar and affectionate care, loyalty, kindness and friendship. Their warmth was like yesterday’s sunshine.  They made me feel oh-so-special.  I am one of the luckiest ones to have made such true friends and am so thankful.

Today, perforce, my focus shifted to house-hunting but the usual anxiety that process typically engenders was happily interrupted by sweet memories of yesterday’s picnic.

’Til next time, y’all…