Yesterday, I drove to Syracuse to pick up my artworks and photos from the New York Stater Fair. The weather wasn’t fantastic – it felt like I drove through one rainstorm and came back through another.
On my way home, somewhere around Exit 33, one of my car’s TPMS sensors reported low air. Oh, that’s not good. Last thing I need is a flat tire on the Thruway, and the Volt does not carry a spare tire. Luckily, I knew that right off Exit 32 was a Stewart’s, and Stewart’s has free air-pumping stations.
One quick stop, a few PSI later, and Lightning’s Girl was back on the road.
Well, almost. There was a detour involved.
See, whenever I drive to the Mohawk Valley or the New York State Fair or to any other long-distance locale, I’ll often do a “driving break” at North Star Orchards in Westmoreland. That might involve picking up some farm-fresh vegetables or local delicacies. Oh, and they also have a nice garden full of mums and roses and whatnot.
And during that time, I might pick up a mum or a rose plant and bring it back to the girlfriend and plant it in her garden. I’m of the belief that backyard horticulture increases household peace. You know … flowers, songbirds, wind chimes, all that.
But we bought mums last week. So there was no need for mums this week.
“Hi there.”
Somebody say something?
“Hi there, do you think I look nice?”
Wait, is that plant talking to me? Am I having a Little Shop of Horrors moment here?
“I’m lonely, take me home with you.”
I don’t know. Give me a reason to bring you home to my girlfriend.
“I’m pretty.”
My girlfriend is prettier.
“I’ll help feed the butterflies.”
Well, she does like butterflies.
“I’ll help with the solitary bees.”
A solitary bee is okay, I’m just not looking toward a solitary bee hive.
“Birds can eat my seeds and petals.”
Okay … but are you an annual, or are you a perennial?
“I’m a perennial.”
You wouldn’t lie to me, would you? You’re not one of those plants that look like one thing and then become an invasive species and choke out all the other plants in the garden, are you?
“This is 2025, take a picture of me and search who I am on Google.”
One photo and a Google search later … confirmation. Okay. I grabbed the potted plant.
At the cash register, I asked the cashier if there were any crates or totes that would hold the plant so that the wet container wouldn’t stain my car’s leather seats. She smiled and handed me a cardboard peaches crate.
So guess who’s riding home to the 518 with me?
A plant named Peaches.
Oh, you want to see the plant itself?
Here you go.
How about we get a better look at the bloom here?
From what I found online, this is a Coneflower, a hearty perennial that will brighten up any garden. And in a few days, it’ll brighten up my beautiful girlfriend’s beautiful garden.
It’s the confluence of things. Had my TPMS sensor not dipped below 32 psi and warned me, I would not have stopped my travels to fix it. And had I not stopped at Exit 32 in Westmoreland, I might have foregone the usual stop at North Star Orchards. And had I not stopped at North Star Orchards, this plant – nicknamed Peaches – would not find a new, peaceful home.
Sometimes the stars align in just the right way.
And I’m totally fine with that.
Chuck The Writer 
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