The gift of a rediscovered gift card
Last weekend I was on the south part of town and realized that among the gum wrappers, unpaid water bill and previously-important Post-it notes, I might find a gift card. It’s easy to forget that you possess gift cards, which is undoubtedly part of the financial plan for larger chain stores. If you carry them for long enough, inflation will soon whittle away your buying power. You might also lose a gift card while you’re fumbling for your keys and bam — the store earns an instant profit.
Recently I used a long-forgotten gift card and learned the shyster store charges a monthly fee. Since this crash in my consumer confidence, I have resolved to spend my gift cards with efficiency.
Despite the gripes, I do love gift cards. They are always the right color and the right size and they force me to do something nice for myself.
At Christmas, my step-mom Lynda had gathered up all of the gift cards she and Dad earned with their credit card points (plus many more she bought at those huge racks of cards at the grocery stores). She placed them in envelopes, and stuffed all the envelopes into a grab bag.
My sister Tania and I took turns blindly drawing cards, one at a time.
I might not go out of my way to spend $25 at Krispy Kreme donuts. However, now that I have a gift card I’ll splurge for some deep-fried love that will land on the break table at my school.
I’d love to spend $50 at Target. However, we have a baby on the way in my family. A gift card for Target happens to be on the mom-to-be’s registry.
The past few weeks have been tough. It’s beautiful outside, but I’ve been learning how to give state-mandated tests. I ache to soak up Vitamin D at upper Bidwell Park. Yet, on the weekends I spend hours dreaming up Zoom lessons that don’t feel talking through a tin can attached to a string and stretched between two skyscrapers.
Then I remember that it’s not just that I’m tired. I’m bummed I can’t call my Dad for teaching advice because he died in January.
Yes, I had a gift card for Home Depot, which has a garden section.
The garden section is outdoors. I’m a teacher and two weeks ago I had my second COVID-19 vaccine. I can risk a few minutes looking at plants I may or may not buy.
Tomato and pepper plants are already on sale. However, we may still have some cool weather. Jerry Mendon cautioned me years ago not to plant tomatoes in early spring because a chill could cause the plants to grow more slowly. I’ll let the professionals continue to nurture tomatoes in temperaturecontrolled greenhouses.
My hope was that Home Depot would have Vinca rosea, also known as Madagascar periwinkle. Each year I buy a few six-packs and wish I had bought eight six-packs. They bloom nearly all summer and take about as much fuss as cooking a microwave dinner.
Early annual color is available now, including viola and impatiens. However, when I have planted these in the past they turn to sickly by the time I turn on my air conditioner. Bright lobelia was also for sale last week, but I’ve killed that as well.
Among my mainstays is Portulaca (not yet in stock), which also thrives in summer heat and neglect.
Lettuce and spinach were spilling out of a pint-sized container. However, I have already planted those by seed, thank you very much.
Thank you for the gift card, Lynda. I bought a perennial lavender, and vowed not to water it too much. I’ve killed at least three lavender plants this way. Maybe I’ll put the lavender plant on my desk at work and at least enjoy it as a $6 bouquet.
I also found a stepping stone for $1.48.
The card still has a balance of about $15, so I’ll throw it into the bottom of my purse for a rainy day.
O n a mood-improvement roll, I toured my garden. Yes, daffodils
are blooming. The buds on my variegated Daphne plant are threatening to pop. My neighbor’s quince is blooming a color not often seen in nature and hyacinth bulbs are well on their way.
Garden enthusiast Heather Hacking loves when you share what’s growing on. Reach out at sowtheregardencolumn@ gmail.com, and snail mail, P.O. Box 5166, Chico CA 95927.