Yesterday while Miss Morgan played with the JGs on another play date I did some planting, primarily potting of some goodies I bought from the nursery (I skipped the depot in favor of the locally owned nursery where they have tons more options. We've got some impatiens in baskets on the front porch as well as some trailing petunias. Out back I've got a gerbra daisy (my favorites!) and some hot pink geraniums in pots. that was fun and successful.
The rain from last night and this morning made for good conditions for weeding. So I went at it. I pulled out the holly from the bed in the front yard. seriously -- who puts holly in a bed in Mississippi? Holly is for Christmas, not for the summer in Mississippi. I've wanted to get rid of that stuff since the day I moved in. Now, just under two years later it is gone. Let me tell you, it was a bit of work -- apparently holly has large roots. I got 95% of the roots out, so hopefully we'll just have a few to pull next year, and the won't be huge and large. now ther are some big holes in the ground cover. I guess I need to fill them up :)
I pulled out the rest of the weeds and leaves that were filling up that bed. I also cleaned up some of the perennials that are starting to come back. Next thing I knew I was pulling out the monkey grass that had been spreading in that bed. Suddenly a brilliant idea hit me. Next thing I knew I was pulling monkey grass from out front to transplant out back around the patio. I'm hoping it will hold up to the puppy wear and tear out there. This project is started.. but there is lots more monkey grass to pull from that bed and lots more patio to keep edging. I think this ought to be a sucessful project in the long run. Fingers crossed.Meanwhile as a part of the transplanting process the brilliant ideas just kept comming. The previous owners had some 'interesting' ideas on gardening. When we closed they let me know that before I had looked at the hosue they had planted some stuff out in front of the house in the beds under the trees. Last summer there was nothing but weeds there. Imagine that. Well, last summer and all this year I've been collecting yard debris and mulching around the trees with leaves, sticks, and pine needles. This summer a couple of hasta magically popped up. It's called mulch people. If you put it out there the plants will come up... unlike if you just put the plants out there in the clayey soil and let it be. So... brilliant idea number two... take the three hasta that were out back where I want to put the monkey grass and split them and put them under the tree. So... i weeded the bed and transplanted the hastas. hopefully we'll get a 75% sucess rate and they'll start going to town. Maybe in a couple of years the ground will be nicely covered.
Throughout this prcoess the JGs hung out in the yard. We are making process. Daisy Dogg ran around and sniffed in the beds and explored around the house while staying within her boundaries. Eventually Ms. Madison came out. For the longest time she sat on the couch and came to stick her head out when Daisy gave her the cue that something was going on outside. Eventually she came out and took up her spot in front of the door. She actually laid out and looked comfy for quite a while rather than just sitting there looking like she wanted me to let her back in. They did a great job!! I'm really proud of my girls. We had lots of people walk by, and several dogs. They just did their barky bark thing but didn't head off to hit the road. They might take a few steps, but when I callled their names they stopped. I'm really happy to see this progress.
In the middle of the afternoon my friend Seth was walkiing around the lake with his adoreable daughters and his dog. We stopped to talk for a few minutes. First I have to compliment Daisy for comming up... getting zapped when she didn't listen to me... but just backing up 10 ft away instead of running to the door. You could tell she really wanted to play with Lumbda. Also.. I have to thank Seth... He was complimenting me on the yard and garden and telling me you could really tell I had been putting a lot of work into it. I have to say that was great! I know what I've been doing so I can tell the difference. However, i didn't know if anyone could tell that there were changes being made - from the grass growing and the clover being mowed to cleaning up the beds to putting out hanging baskets.
So for all my complaints, I really do enjoy working in the yard. I just don't enjoy it in July/August when its 100+ degrees Now the dogs are passed out and snoring. Big Time Snoring. I guess it was an exciting weekend.
