My youngest sister, Frankie, of Just My Opinion, (who, btw, needs to start posting again) calls working in the garden “dirt therapy.” She’s absolutely right. Even if I work too long and come in aching, I still feel better for all that I have accomplished. I believe that’s one of the major reasons people garden, other than the obvious reason of growing food.
Yesterday was quite cool, but I was outside, weeding along the sidewalk in jeans and a turtleneck, happy as a clam to be grubbing in the dirt. I pulled thistles and dandelions, and was able to assess what I need to get on my next trip to The Growing Place.
I started to pull out the dead stalks of purple Homestead verbena from last year, and discovered that it had wintered over. I bought three more plants last week, so we are going to have a LOT of verbena. That’s okay with me. I hope it grows past the edge of the garden, onto the sidewalk, as it did a few years ago. It was beautiful in late summer and the fall.
I need to get at least one, perhaps two roses, and a dahlia. Where some of my English garden plants have died off, I’m going to sow cosmos and cleome. That area is toward the back of the garden and the taller plants will look good there.
I’m aware that the gardens across the front of the house lack balance, and I’m not sure what I want to do about that. I know it will have better “curb appeal” if I repeat things, but it means taking out or moving plants that I like. Do I satisfy myself, or think about pleasing a potential buyer?
We’re in a short down-time on blooms. The tulips are done but the iris have not yet opened. I have a tiny group of alliums in bloom, and pansies and million bells in pots, but other than the lilacs down the yard nothing much is happening. I think in about ten days it might all go crazy! lol
I hope to plant more seeds in the raised veggie bed this afternoon, and pull some of the weeds in the herb garden walkways. I eased a support over the East Friesland salvia in the corner of one bed, so that this year it won’t flop over. Had I waited even one more day that chore would have been really difficult.
Dirt therapy. Perhaps I can solve the woes of the world while I spruce up my gardens. Sounds like a plan!!