update on the garden

Its been a long while since I've really mentioned my gardening. For anyone not interested in the whole gardening thing(or hearing me gloat), you should probally pass this one up as I feel like dedicating these few minutes intirely to bragging on my garden.

I think normal people spend time outside sitting on their deck, resting, perhaps? I've always been a busy bee and not much of a watcher, but rather a do-er. I can't believe that this is the first year I've given gardening a try. I freaking love it, even the de-weeding. Granted, theres not a whole lot going on out there right now but by next spring and summer, it should be wonderful. To date, off the top of my head since early this spring I have planted:many tulip bulbs, hyacinths, naked ladies,daffodils,2 burning bushes(one of which accidently got mowed over), a lilac bush(which doesn't seem to be doing overly well), a hydrangea which is in its prime and beautiful. Also planted, garden mums,butterfly weed, dianthus, delphinium, shasta daisy, autumn joy sedums, geraniums, hostas, 2 generic rose bushes, only one of which I think has the possibility of surviving, and a double knock out rose which is doing wonderfully. Not to be forgotten, more recently, bachelor buttons, morning glorys,coxy comb, and marigolds. I purchased 2 hanging baskets 1-wax begonia and the others name escaping me at the moment. Other annuals as well including coleus,dusty miller,impatiens(both new guinea and standards)petunias and pansys(altho the pansys are all but dead despite my constant attention paying),pink salvia,mums, red eyed verbena and zinnia(both at the top of my list so far for taking care of themselves nicely), vinca...I am certain there must be more but its escaping me at the moment. OH! The daylilies which I planted early this spring, they have gotten massive and appear they will bloom later this summer. And we finally got the ground in front tilled up and planted probally 20 packets of seeds, everything from ground cover to widlflower mix to huge sunflower seeds. We'll see what happens. I've already gotten some bulbs to plant for the fall, and am going to try to get a start off of FILs old fashioned rose bush to plant on the outside front of the house between the office window and the bedroom window on the east side.

You know what I've gotten from all of this? A wonderful sense of achievement. Its amazing what having a true hobby has given to me. Its something I look forward to, coming home, taking care of all of the plants and flowers. Maybe its fulfilling a motherly 'need to nurture' sense within me. I don't know. I just love pulling up the house, seeing how awesome it looks on the outside. Other than the planting and tending, I've also undergone huge landscaping projects. Sometimes I think maybe I've bitten off more than I can chew, mostly with the heavy lifting but thats what men are for, right? We have the rock garden out back, I've got stepping stones going from the back steps to back there with a nice little patio set and some torches. I guess my biggest problem is I'd rather do something than actually go back there and set and relax. We've still got the stone walkway to finish up in front but for that I need more weed barrier and sand. I'm quite ready to get that done, I'm tired of the eye sore.

So, what do I do in my spare time? Well I help DH and FIL in the veg. garden. We've been getting all of the lettuce, radishes and onions we can stand to eat and share. As of today, zucchini. Within the next week, cucumbers and very soon, a good crop of tomatoes(over 2000 plants-yes 3 zeros). DH brought me some potatoes he dug today. I freaking love fresh from the garden goodies. It simply can't be beaten! Last week, on my day off I helped my mom "work up" 8 gallons of strawberrys. Tomorrow(my day off again), I'm helping her make blackberry jam and strawberry perserves. YUMMMMMMMMMM

And now, well I'm tired. Hope I didn't bore my small audience too badly. nitey nite