The trials and joy of gardening

Paula's Retirement

It's 11:00 am and I'm hot, tired and thirsty after two hours spent working in the yard. It's already hot outside in the sun. I decided to blog while I enjoy a cool, refreshing diet coke. This morning I pulled the weeds next to the road, transplanted some canna lilies, planted more cucumbers in the vegetable garden, put cages around the tomatoes and yarrow, staked up a fallen rose bush, deadheaded the roses, and planted some candy tuft seed. I'm NOT watering as we have a 90% chance of rain today.

I love my yard. It's beautiful if I do say so myself, and I always wanted a beautiful yard. I truly enjoy working outside until I get hot; in fact there is nowhere I would rather be than outside in my own backyard. One thing I looked forward to when I retired was having time to keep up on the yard work. Having said all that, I have to confess something here. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't do it on such a large scale. I think I "bit off more than I can chew." Here is the list of things that still need to be done outside:

1. Put mulch around all the flowers and shrubs. That means spending more money.
2. Putting out pinestraw around the edge of the woods - more money.
3. Weed the beds around the house.
4. Edge around all beds.
5. Paint the benches.
6. Paint the deck.
7. Clean and paint the tool shed,
8. Clean the wooden fence.
9. Prune the crepe myrtles.
10. Put another coat of paint on the bridge.
11. Kill the brush that didn't die the first time I spent the day spraying.

These are just the one-time things. The weeding, watering, spraying, and fertilizing never end. Like I said, I overdid it. Meanwhile, the birds, hummingbirds, and squirrels all need their food replenished, and the fish beg for flakes every time I pass the pond. Oh, and the pond needs cleaning out again. I ordered a replacement UV bulb this morning as the old one burned out, and that is the ONLY way to keep algae out of the pond.

I love gardening, but I never meant to do it full-time! There are too many other things in life I want to experience. It is sad when I see the neighbors walking by enjoying each other's company, and I can't bring myself to join them because there is just too much to do. And then there is my jazzercise class, which takes time during the coolest part of the day that I would normally spend outdoors. I can't give it up, however; it is my newly discovered fountain of youth!

OK, I guess I've complained enough and cooled off enough to get back out there. One more hour!