My 2025 Spring Garden Memorial and the loss of my Dragon Stacker.

“You could use a little more color in your life.” ~ Danny (Nyssacat373) January 2022.

"Well Danny, I hope you can see me from way up there. Perhaps when we next meet, I owe you a dance, until then what can I plant for you while I'm out in my garden?"

“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven.

Grief manifests in different forms in different people and on it’s own time-table. As soon as the weather was reasonably frost free I poured into what energy I can muster into bringing more color into my life.

My hands seemed to be slower responding this season and the cold weather from mid-March to mid-May seemed to make hand-eye coordination a little worse. My health has not improved much this spring. With my Mother’s estate federal Tax filing now complete a major stressor is behind me and the Tax man got his pound of flesh. It is on to finish the Property conveyance into my Sister’s name as directed by Mom's Will.

Mid-March was still cold and my first checks are the Crocus annuals I planted last fall. The white blooms were the first to pop up for 2025. This bunch was a blend of Violet and white crocus in keeping with same color scheme I originally planned. Instead, the Violet blooms came a bit later. Maybe I should have planted them earlier in the fall. This spindly result was merely the first year so I expect these will be fuller and more established come the spring of 2026.

It’s been an insane past three years. The stress of the previous years have been almost unbearable of the things I am powerless to do anything about.
I've just purchased a Pre-need funeral package. It's nice green spot with twelve spaces with one reserved for me when that day comes my family can put Deb and I together. We'll be roommates again, just not too soon.

These daffodils planted last October are called, “Mother & Daughter” blend. Deb, my late Roommate enjoyed the golden blooms so I added around the few surviving ones she planted a few years earlier. Accenting this cluster are White Daffodils, are a variety called “Poets” and they are not common as the typical golden Daffodils on my street so I feel pleased to see pedestrians pause to admire them.

Deb used to be in charge of the garden, she often chose what and where to plant. Only a few of her Daffodils remained so last fall I planted a bunch more around her last Daffodil. I also planted a second stand of the same tulip blend at a different spot to the original stand. Her way meant the flowers are spread out at a location while I preferred to pack like colored blooms together as a group.

‘Eye Catcher’ is this blend of three varieties of Tulips; the pink appear first, followed by Streaked blooms and then finally the deep reds? I love the dramatic combination of like shades and flower shapes of last year’s tulips and tried to duplicate this on the opposite side of my garden only that resulted in a different redder shade. Same package and brand, but a different shade. Moral of the story, shades can vary from year to year.

Red. I checked the original package. Yes, I kept it. It’s no wonder why they don’t list the exact species of tulip it’s because it is subject to availability and market conditions as I dug around the websites for more information on this product. Regardless, these were a success when I see neighbors and kids stop to take photos.

This year I’ve added this annual scarlet Dianthus mini Carnation.It’s almost ten months since my Mom passed away. Red Carnations were her favorite other than the large indoor succulent I remember she had one time.

It has been almost five years since Danny and I met on Instagram. He lived on a beautiful rural property that belonged to his sister. A ranch located in New York state, a retired naval veteran and medical officer now caretaker of property, horses and three cats as his family. And a dedicated Buffalo Bills fan. He is also a Stacker and collector of Dragon themed collectables that went by a few names; Dr. Who, Nyssacat373 and a few other names having been banned a few times for hurting the feelings of some anonymous online snowflake.

And this Dianthus bicolor Pink Carnation. This variety of Carnation is a good companion to the scarlet variety as a transition bloom to a full pink dianthus to be added later, This is not what I had in mind as a floral memorial for my Online knight in shining armor.

In that time we traded, he got one of my punk garters and he sent me his Buffalo Bill's Toque with his unit patch 😮. He'd often sneak a few gifts inside the silver goodies he purchased on my behalf. At times showered me with far more than I expected. He was growing rather fond of me as we messaged each other almost daily. He shared a dream that we were together at Folly beach. Not far from where the Queen Anne's Revenge sank off the Carolinas. Another dream was that we were at an annual armed forces Ball for a slow dance to the tune of "It's been a long long time." by Kitty Kallen. What a romantic.
But things came to an end on May 23rd when he suddenly stopped.

This was just a part of what he sent me over the five years. He sure knew my taste in the shiny.Now I’d trade it all in for a chance to thank and kiss him for making me feel special. How I wish circumstances were different that what they are now.

There was no 'Good morning' message that Friday. By Saturday still nothing from him but I left a direct message to him on Instagram. One of the ladies in his Server was becoming just as concerned and initiated a 'Welfare Check' request at Danny's home on Sunday the 25th. The bad news came Monday the 26th and the authorities estimated his death sometime on the 22nd.

I will deeply miss you Danny.
Next time our souls meet, I owe you that dance you wanted.
Until then, Rest in peace ❤️💋

My Tribute and memories of Danny aka Nyssacat373

Stacking Hive, Precious metals and fun for those dark stormy days!

The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain @stokjockey for #silvergoldstackers pirates to proudly showcase their shiny booty and plunder for all to see. Landlubbers arrrh… welcomed to participate and be a Pirate at heart so open yer treasure chests an’ show us what booty yea got!

References & Sources

Remembered on the Alliance 2025 Hive's Veteran's Day post.
Photos are my own shot with an ancient 2018 Samsung SM-A530W or otherwise indicated.
P. Image under Pixabay
W. Wiki Commons
☠️🎃 Page Dividers by thekittygirl. ❄️🌞
Cameo Raven Brooch from The Black Wardrobe.

"I’m just a gal in black, not a bloody Financial Advisor!"
Physical precious metals bullion stacking is only a part of my personal overall financial strategy. Meanwhile, collecting numismatics are a different set of objectives and strategy. Unless you are a complete nutcase as I am please, do your research before deciding to buy into any bullion or numismatic products.