making progress

I started cleaning the flower beds on Sunday. I worked on two more yesterday after I got home from work. I am making progress, but have some decisions to make. The two big beds that run across the front of the house are left to tackle. I have several varieties of perennials in those beds and while they are doing quite well, I don't have the time to keep the beds in good shape. I'm thinking about moving a few of the plants and killing the rest. Ugh.

I think a more groomed bed instead of the wild look it has when everything is in bloom, might be easier. Wild is never truly wild. It does require work as things grow and spread.

Today is going to be a rainy possibly stormy day. I have time to think on this and decide the best course of action.

Happy Super Tuesday. I voted in early voting. The weather the South will receive will impact turnout. Should be interesting to see just how much.

finishing up

The weekend was devoted to finishing some things up and getting some things started. Yep. Regular weekend! The hubby was invited to attend the NCAA regional final, so he went and watched Florida beat Dayton. The boy and I had a feast (his words, not mine) and watched "Frozen." We both loved it. A few too  many songs for my liking, but a nice story and how fun to see the main plot be between two sisters?! Then he went  off to do his thing and I watched "The Mortal Instruments..City of Bones." This is based on the YA book series by Cassandra Clare. It was better than I expected and I may get on the waiting list for the books, or see if I can borrow them from the neighbor.

I finished reading Veronica Roth's "Divergent." Another first in a series. More on that later. I also bought and downloaded the 9th After Cilmeri book by Sarah Woodbury. I really enjoy this self pubbed series.

The hubby and I let the ground dry out a bit after the deluge we had Friday and Saturday. We didn't start weeding flower beds until Sunday. The back beds are done and the holly shrubs have been given a haircut as well as the Bartlett pear. I'm going to try and work on the front beds after work today and tomorrow as the rain moves back in on Wednesday. We've decided to cut down the crape myrtles in those front beds. They are huge and a pain in the butt. So, out they come. He got a new chain for the chainsaw and will take care of that soon.

I'm thinking of putting some sort of azalea in their place.

The oldest is back at school and ready to rock the last month of classes. The middle daughter interviews TODAY for the London program. Good thoughts heading her way!!

So, that is it! In retrospect, I guess we started more than we finished!  Happy Monday!

the reclaiming of my flower beds

Back in the early spring, before the oldest's graduation party, we had made a big push to clean the flower beds and spread down some mulch.

Then the next thing I knew, it was October. Yes, I don't believe I did a darn thing to those beds all summer long. The bed on the east side of our house was so overgrown, I was embarrassed. I love to garden and putz around with the landscaping, but when I went back to work full time, I just didn't have enough hours on the weekend to spend that sort of time digging in the dirt.

Hubby graciously offered to help and I accepted, knowing I would be advising him all day long on what was a weed and what was a perennial. It took us 3 hours, but we managed to weed, trim, and reclaim all of the flower beds and shrubs. It actually looks nice again!

We still have a few things to do once the grass goes dormant. The liriope needs to be cut down along with the irises, the mexican petunias and the sedum.

This gardening effort was just one item on our to do list for the weekend. I'm happy to report we checked off all the other items as well.

Happy Monday!

plants with purpose or how does your garden grow

I'm in the process of 'repurposing' my flower beds into vegetable beds. I have lost several ornamental shrubs due to a variety of reasons and am going to rework those beds into spaces where we can grow things to eat. The few perennial flowers in those beds have been moved or thinned to make room. This is an experiment for me, but I'm sort of excited about it. I've always wanted an herb garden and one area will be converted for that. I'm also planning on planting a few tomatoes, green peppers and zucchini.

I'd love to build a raised bed in the back yard and do a proper garden, but this is not the year to tackle that project. So, I will use the space I have that is easily converted for a different purpose. On Sunday I priced plants at Lowe's and will check at Wally World today to see how they compare in price and plant quality. I hope to have the herbs and veggies in the ground so they can benefit from the rain we are expecting to fall on Wednesday night.

In other news, I'm reading the latest installment in JD Robb's (Nora Roberts) saga featuring Eve Dallas. These books have become a bit too formulaic for me. You can't deny Roberts' success as a writer and a major force in publishing, but I'm finding more enjoyment in reading new, debut and midlist authors now.

winning the battle but might not win the war

Several years ago, shortly after we moved here, I got a case of poison ivy after weeding my back flower bed. Never in all of my years of tromping through the woods, carving out flower beds in the woods etc, did I ever get that rash. Leave it to find me in the middle of suburbia. Anyway, since that time I am super sensitive to plants and a mere scratch from the most harmless looking thing will give me itchy red bumps. A shower and an antihistamine clear it up quick, but the joy of gardening has been dampened.

I managed to get all of my flower beds weeded yesterday. It took me three hours of steady work. My legs, arms and even fingers are feeling the effort today. I defeated those weeds, so the day's battle is all mine! Plus, the good news is I didn't break out. Long sleeves and long gloves seemed to protect me from the itches. Yeah! Now, I just need to decide what to plant and where as I really need low care plants that choke out weeds quick.

Hmmm. Maybe today in the bookstore I can find a nice gardening book to spur some ideas.

Happy Thursday.

one down three to go

I finished Kim Harrison's Black Magic Sanction yesterday. Rachel Morgan has yet again found herself on the 'bad' side of the witching world as she continues to associate with demons, learn their magic and even use it on occasion. All the regulars are here in this one, including her current and childhood nemesis Trent Kalamack. One of the things I love about Harrison's writing is that she can make even the 'bad' characters likeable.

I've know started the last of Sara Donati's Wilderness series books. "The Endless Forest" focuses yet again on the Bonner family and their assorted friends and family in upstate New York during the early 1800's. If you enjoy Diana Gabaldon, give Donati a look. At one point in this series, Claire and Jamie put in an appearance. These are well written historical novels full of interesting and well developed characters.

But before I read today, I'm going to get my hands dirty. It is time to do the first round of spring weeding and begin the reclaiming of the flower beds. I've already discussed with hubby about having mulch delivered and we have a tentative date picked. Nothing says spring better than doing some outside cleaning...much more rewarding for me than doing the cleaning that waits inside the four walls of my home.

it never fails

After the youngest finishes his swimming lesson this morning, we need to head over to our local Costco for a few items. A few items at Costco always ends up costing me close to $200, if I'm lucky and don't fall prey to some amazing 'deal' or temptation. I usually try and make a list to keep me within my budget, but even with a list, I always forget to pick up something needed for the house.

It never fails.

I watered my backyard flower beds this morning as rain has been scarce. Our extended forecast shows a chance of rain over the weekend, which might put a damper on a holiday plans for some folks, but we really need the water Mother Nature provides. On a positive note, all of my veggie plants are thriving and are either bearing produce or have some really awesome 'flowers' that indicate produce to come in the near future!

Yesterday while the oldest was at conditioning, I sat out at the field under a tree, enjoyed a nice breeze and began to read the third Inheritance Cycle book by Christopher Paolini, "Brisinger"....so far I'm not enjoying the book and slogged through the first 50 pages. Ugh. I hate when a book is slow to begin and if this one doesn't get better quick, I may set it aside. I rarely do that, but when a book is this size (748 pages), the temptation to cut bait is tempting.

planting

I made it to our locally owned garden/feed store yesterday after a detour at the car repair garage (picked up a screw in the rear passenger tire) and a quick detour into the local coffee shop for a mango smoothie to bolster my spirits. I selected some beautiful tomato, cuke, green pepper and zucchini plants to try and grow. I then went to the dreaded Wal Mart, which does have a decent garden section, and bought tomato cages and several bags of soil. Once home, I managed to get all of the little veggie sproutlings planted and myself cleaned up before the oldest came rolling in from school.

One of the other soccer parents, who is quite the gardener, told me after I was lamenting that I didn't have a garden, that all those 5 gallon buckets we had stacked in the garage would work. Just be careful of the water and such. So, I'm considering this attempt at gardening my portable garden! I did put a few plants into an actual 'bed' because I do have one in the back corner and the lantana that was in it for two years finally died. That stuff, although it is supposed to be an annual, can become quite weed like.

For right now, I have visions of great home grown veggies this summer. I long for a real garden someday, but this will soothe the craving to grow something edible.

In totally unrelated news, the oldest's soccer team will travel to the state tournament in May.