Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Garden Denial, An Amends, and a List

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        I have blinders on . I have been avoiding all peripheral and direct views of my yard since late November.

        I know. That is wrong on so many levels.  After all, my yard stood by me in 110 degree heat last year.

        I need to stop acting like we have never met!

        I can imagine the mumblings-

Plants: Why won’t she look at us? We are trying so hard and are sooo tired.

        This is a photograph of my esperanza plant, which is right outside my front door. Charming, right?

        So this morning I decided to look, make amends, and make a list.

                              List

*  Plan clean up in February – after the last chance of colder weather.

*  Trim rose bushes back in February and give them a good feeding. My friend Aissa, who is an extraordinary gardener , said she does this every February, and it makes a huge difference.

*  Continue to stock up on peachy pink caladium bulbs.  I am going to outline all of my flower beds with caladiums to continue my color scheme of: peachy pink, pink, and yellow.  The pinks are from caladiums, begonias, and the colors in my crotons.  The yellows are from my crotons and my esperanza plants.

*  Plan my  front yard flower bed along the fence line.  This will be a huge task.

*  Doll up the area in front of my garden shed.

*  Paint the stenciled rug in my garden shed.

*  Add repaired and new fencing to my wish list ($). I have tried to convince my husband that we could do it ourselves- even with his bad shoulder.  His response?  Eye rolling and this comment:

Now don’t get yourself all stirred up.”

*  Plan my zinnia bed. I want a cutting garden.

*  Plant tomato plants.  I am still undecided about this.

        But first things first.  This morning I have some apologies to make. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Visit Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer for more gardening hopes and dreams.

outdoor wednesday

 

23 comments:

Candy said...

I can so relate to...I just don't want to notice the brown dead stakes of once beautifully blooming things. But alas me must rid the old to make space for the new...coming soon.
Let's enjoy the process ;-)

Stacey said...

Oh my south Texas friend, most of the things you mentioned won't happen here until the first of April. Our average last freeze is much later than yours. It took me several years after moving from Dallas to Oklahoma to realize that Easter is kind of the magic mark.

I want to work outside so much it hurts! I need sunshine and dirt. I need to go to the nursery. It will come.

I'm off to make homemade soup now. We have an ice storm coming.

Ann said...

That big list is pretty consuming. Why don't your first have a cup of cofee or tea whichever you like and prop you're feet up. I think you've done enough for one day.

Ann at Tin and Sparkle

Elizabethd said...

We still have the danger of frost up to April in Brittany. But I do cut the roses back in March and give them lots of compost.

Becca's Dirt said...

We have to have a plan don't we. I have a 3 ring binder and have charted and planned and am still planning. Can't wait to see your pretties this summer. I plan to add some roses this year.

Marguerite said...

That's quite a list, but I know that you will tackle it with gusto! With the warmer weather that we've been having, here, the plants are getting confused and even some of the heartier azaleas are blooming! Good luck with the fence project!

Amy@TheLemonCottage said...

I'm giggling right now.
I'm ignoring my gardens, too. Although, they are under a blanket of snow and still snoozing.

Oh, I hope you plant zinnias. I plant tons of them every year to cut. Such cheery little flowers. :)

If you paint a rug in the shed, will you do a tutorial? I've wanted to do something like that, but have no idea what kind of paint to use?
~Amy

Light and Voices said...

Our gardens in Chicagoland area have a blanket of snow on top of them. But I will get out the gardening books and dream and make lists. Good for you, you already started. You go girl!
Joyce M

Cindy said...

Thanks for helping me realize that there is gardening in my future. I can at least plan, right? It will be 3 months before we can clean up, May 10th is our last frost date here. I wonder how long it will be before we're having tomatoes, there is 2ft. of snow on the ground, so I think the soil won't warm up very early this year for the tomatoes to take off once planted. I SO enjoyed my large tomato garden last year. I shared with MANY people and there's not a lot of upkeep. At the end of the season I made SO many "sun dried tomatoes" and froze them. Even yesterday I made chili with some!

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

My plants don't talk until they thaw out! But when they begin talking, it's non-stop jabber until I do something. Still, it's too early for my list to start; I've got another month and a half at least of winter!! Sob, sob.

Amy said...

My roses are out there saying "Helloooo? Anybody?", too....
I plan on some container gardening, so I could probably start 'em off early in the house, huh? I gotta crank up my enthusiasm...

Theresa said...

I know exactly where you are coming from, Laura! The sun is shining so bright today, I actually thought about doing some stuff in my yard. I haven't yet... but the day isn't over:) Enjoy your apologies, I am sure all will be forgiven!

Deb said...

I know what you mean...when I pull into the driveway I avoid eye contact with my flower beds ... I have been ignoring them since end of spring last year...oh they have so much to be done to them....and they don't know that some of them are leaving....and some of the plants are being moved....I haven't been able to face them yet to tell them that their time is up.....

Ticking and Toile said...

Hi Laura,
Wow ~ we were doing the exact same thing!! My post was on the exact same thing...yes, I've been neglecting my garden, I can't look at it....brown sticks everywhere....need to be cut down...rose bushes everywhere need to be pruned...hydrangeas everywhere need pruned.....and on & on & on & on!!! argh..

But guess what??? It's sunny today ~ Maybe today is THE day to tackle this stuff!

Have fun!

Shellagh

Lynn said...

I just got exhausted from reading your list! I can't really do anything till April. It has snowed in March up here in these parts!

Debbie's Garden said...

End of February?! We can't really plant anything outside until about Mother's Day. I tell myself that my plants are taking a well deserved "nap". Its way too early for guilt for me. I'm so jealous,.

Jeanette said...

I apologie to my plants regularly. I can so relate.

Cynthia K. said...

Hi! I loved your husband's response to your garden and fence plans "Now don't get yourself all stirred up." Tee Hee. He should know by now how many plans and projects you can come up with - especially when he sees you making lists!

I looked at some of your previous posts and decided to sign up as a follower so that I don't miss a thing! Come see me when you can and I'd be honored for you to follow me also...

Cynthia K. (Beauty and Blessings)

Anne Lorys said...

You are a far better woman than I am, you should see our poor, negelcted yard.
Well, our "yard" is actually 4 1/2 acres, so there's a good bit to neglect, but still, you'd think that we could at LEAST get motivated enough to water the plants, right?

Admiring your resolve from afar.... ;-)
Anne

HollyC said...

For the past few years, I've went with the motto "less is more" when it came to my yard. Maybe you'll inspire me to do better. I can't wait to see what you do;-)

Kathy said...

It's 6 degrees here in Michigan so it will be at least 3 months before I can even think about my gardens ;( ! Sorry to be so late in visiting you for Outdoor Wednesday. Have a great weekend...Kathy

Barbara said...

Laura, I have also tried not to look at my yard.
I have lost so many plants....terrible. I will also renew my relationhip when the last cold has passed us by.

Barbara

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Laura, my front porch sounds like yours. After reading your post..I promise myself that right after this blasted house painting job is over and the carpet is installed...it's out side I go for some serious grooming. I mean, people come in that way. You at least are planning. I haven't even done that...but now I'm inspired! Isn't blogging grand! :)

 

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