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Subject: Wasp Spray
Posted: 29 Jun 2010 Posted: 15 Jun 2010 Posted: 04 Jun 2010 Posted: 24 May 2010 Posted: 24 May 2010 All Entries |
Follow-up On Only 24 Hrs.In A DayThis is the continuation of my previous blog concerning getting my garden ready for a tour by 12 ladies who range in age from 63 to 87,in my 'Crazy Neighbor Lady's' garden club. For the sake of space she will be referred to as CNL. The blog left off on the Friday before the Tuesday tour and chronicled all the work I had to do in the next three days. Here is what happened. But, first I must digress. I built the garden in stages, extending the beds 60 to 100 feet a year. Five years later it is a continous 500' long and anywhere from 8 to 20' deep. When I installed my first beds 60' on either side of my garden gate it required 40 2cu ft bags of cypress mulch. This season was the first time I had to weed and mulch the entire garden at one time. I had 62 bags left over from last fall, when I failed to spread them; one of the reasons I had so many weeds to deal with now. I just kept buying bag after bag this past week. My Garden Mobile is an old Ford Expedition and with the back seat folded down can hold 40 bags of mulch at a time. I spread the 62 bags on hand and started bringing in 40 bags at a time. It took an additional 160 bags to cover the entire garden, that is 222 bags of mulch or 18 bags short of 3 full pallets. I am buying in bulk next year. The first thing they teach you in Master Gardening class is to plan your projects and ALWAYS plan for the maintenance. I wish I known that principle before I started expanding my original beds. While those backbreaking three days almost killed me; at first I was afraid I was going to die, later I was afraid I wouldn't. Every night this old out of shape body was aching from head to toes and as tired as I was it literally hurt to breathe let alone change positions in the bed. Well, the day of the tour finally came and I was ready, the garden looked great, the gardener looked close to death and the Southern ladies were over an hour late. When they finally arrived I had iced lemonade and homemade cookies that were in the shape of flowers, ready for them. However,it turns out they were late because CNL decided to feed them before the tour. I made dozen cookies and maybe they ate 3 or 4 cookies total. I was very pleased with all the complements they were gushing on me. Some just loved my greenhouse while others wanted to take my homemade compost bin home with them. All in all I know they enjoyed the tour and within 45 minutes they were on their way. As I said before, my garden now looks like it would look around May 31, and I am very pleased with it. That Thursday we had our Master Gardener class and CNL was one of the 3 volunteer caterers assigned to supply lunch. So I did not think anything was out of place with her being there. When we broke for lunch CNL gave the blessing and then the roof fell in. She asked for a moment and began telling all my fellow interns about my 'beautiful' garden and how talented I was in the garden. I felt very embarrassed until I heard her say, "All of you need to see his garden, and you will be just as amazed as my garden club was. You need to pick a date and go over to Jerry's house and see it AND he will have lemonade and cookies waiting for you too". My brain was bouncing of the inner walls of my skull. 'What is she saying, did I really hear her say what I think I heard her say? Where's my gun'? Long story short I have 35 Interns and Master Gardeners coming to tour my garden on May 20. Hey, CNL nothing like clearing it with me first, just invite anyone you want to come over for lemonade and cookies. At least the hard work is done and all I really need to do is put in my annuals for added color and start building the 15 hanging baskets that ring the garden. By May 20th everything will either be in bloom or at least growing. This weekend my wife is home and we are putting in or first vegetable garden. This time I will be ready and be able to work at a leisurely pace. You know, not even I believe that last statement. This blog entry has been viewed 459 times
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Oh, you do have to take photos and post. Your garden sounds lovely. Sounds like you are going to have to cook a lot more cookies :)
Oh yes please we want photographs!!
Once again I am exhausted reading your blog. At least you have most of the grunt work done before the next tour. Putting in the annuals is the fun part because you have instant gratification. Although just getting everything mulched makes a big difference in appearance. Would love to see photos...I won't say when your done because gardeners are never done! I am still behind after being in Jersey for a week, but it was a good week.
Your garden sounds wonderful!
Hard work = fulfilment, pride and joy.
AG -- loved your blog. What a good chuckle I had at your expense, sorry... Seriously, congrats on getting it all done. I would love to see some pics when you have enough steam to man the camera. It sounds wonderful. Login or register to leave a comment. |
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