In the Garden: July 2011 Archives

We have reached the point of summer where I need to be careful of the heat and humidity and sunshine. When it gets too hot, I wilt, and there are too many things I want to do to be sitting on the sidelines recovering.

For years I've talked about working in the gardens a little every day, and this year seems to be my year to accomplish it! I've been getting up at 5:00 a.m. and putting in between 90 and 150 minutes on the gardens, almost every day. I was a lounge lizard on the Fourth, but I moved right along most of the week before, and returned to work today.

I have sternly forbidden myself from buying any plants until everything from the previous round of shopping was planted. I HATE loosing plants that succumb to heat. It's awful to see them waste away. I feel bad about killing off perfectly good plants, and hate to waste the money. Limiting what I purchase to what I have a chance of getting planted has been a win-win situation all around.

This weekend I planted two scented geraniums, two spicy globe basils, and three lemon verbena in the herb garden. Along the front sidewalk, I planted two thirds a flat of white alyssum, and five red-violet petunias. I've been weeding in the gardens along the front of the house, over a period of about four days. I continued today digging up a patch of crabgrass, pruning the junipers and birch, and starting to clear a path for the meter readers around the corner of the house.

The south side of my home is edged with a bed of day lilies. Unfortunately, this bed is infested with a strange weed that propagates via very shallow runners. The plants grow up to five feet tall and are topped with a small yellow flower that looks rather like a dandelion. The good thing about this weed is that it is very easy to pull! I spent about 20 minutes this morning clearing all but the last six feet of the bed. I came to a screeching halt when I found very healthy poison ivy plants. I need a hazmat suit that I can wear to protect myself so I can pull out those plants.

I've left the weeds lying on the lawn, which is a no-no, but I'll collect them tomorrow morning, and add a bit more of the evergreen to the wheelbarrow. I may have some teenaged assistance this weekend, so perhaps I can get some mulch down to prevent the return of the weeds. And, I hope to spread some cosmos and cleome seeds across the front of the house, so we may have some color later this season.

A little gardening each day seems to be the way to accomplish my goal. *S*

This week has been a busy one for me. On Tuesday, Scraps on a Mission met here and five of us continued to work on lap quilts for charity. The house was filled with the sound of busy sewing machines and women's laughter. We have five small projects completed, and I have seven more packaged and ready to be pin basted for quilting. YEA!!!

I've been working on the Casa Buffy National Park this week. It's not its stunning best, but we are well on our way to getting things manicured. Dear Husband has seen to the mowing, and I have used the string trimmer and the trimmer with the shrub blade. (Note to self: get that darned blade sharpened!)

I've been getting up at 5:00 in the morning to weed. It's been cool, even chilly at that time of the day, so I've gotten a lot of work done. There are still spots here and there in the gardens that need work, but the overall look is of lawns and gardens that are loved.

Yesterday I weeded for two and a half hours, and then went for a pedicure. A pedicure is one of the absolute best ways to pamper yourself! I came home to work in the office, and then I used the leaf blower to "sweep" the garage. If you try this, I suggest you cover your hair with a bandana, wear a face mask to avoid inhaling the dirt, and remember to carry the blower tube pointing up until you are ready to put it to work. Oh....and move the cars first! lol

Tonight is the "Fourth of July" picnic for my quilting bee. The ladies will bring dishes to pass and Dear Husband and I will grill a variety of meat. This is the only meeting where husbands are invited. I decided to do some extra things for the meal: deviled eggs, hamburger beans and a fruit salad, and we'll provide all the condiments and beverages. I have some cooking to do, so I'll keep this short.

I'm going to see "Larry Crowne" tomorrow. I love all of Tom Hanks movies. I expect this will be rather like "You've Got Mail," not his most serious work, but the perfect sort of movie for a summer afternoon. I need to get bird seed, and potting soil, and rooting hormone in the morning, and I may make a stop at our local farmer's market, and I plan to be lazy and bring something home for dinner so that I don't have to cook. It should be a lazy day!

I hope you will all have a wonderful Fourth of July. Be sure to teach the younger ones why we celebrate, and the responsibilities that come with freedom! Happy Fourth!