Gardening...by the seat of your pants

I had someone hurl a vicious accusation at me the other day. As a matter of fact, it was at church! You’d think that in church, at least, you’d be safe from verbal assaults.

I took a week and one day off of work last week. (With weekends, that was ten glorious days of freedom. Well, not freedom…the whole point was to stay home and work around the house – mostly outside.) I had to go in for an hour on Monday to make sure everyone got paid, but after that I went to Wal-Mart and Lowe’s…and a really wonderful local nursery called Vineyards. I looked for bedding plants at Lowe’s, but was severely disappointed. Everything looked like it had been sitting there for six months. Vineyards is kind of expensive, but I know their plants are good…and since they have several large greenhouses you can find a lot of plants in a lot of varieties…all in various stages of growth.

I bought three lavender plants, four day lilies, a flat of purple alyssum, a flat of dusty miller and two flats of pink petunias, a couple of large bags of potting soil, and a new (kink-free) hose. (The one in the front yard is an absolute piece of crap – it kinks it you look at it cross-eyed.)

Fortunately, there are some perennials already doing their thing, and until about mid-June, early-July the bleeding hearts are beautiful. It's been too cold for all but one of the hostas, but the rest are peeking their little noses up and should be coming on soon.

Now I’m not a really enthusiastic gardener. I used to be. But that was before three knee surgeries and two degenerating disks in my back. I am forced to sit on my butt while planting. Kneeling is so much easier…because butt-walking around the flower bed can get pretty messy (not to mention incredibly stupid-looking). And since getting up from sitting on my butt nearly requires a block and tackle, I prefer to work in the yard when no one is watching. Hence, taking time off during the week…rather than putting on a Gong Show appearance for the entire neighborhood on Saturday.

I also had plans to stain the gates and clean out the Kitty Diva’s litter boxes. My neighbor was also going to start painting the trim.

The actual work part didn’t thrill me, but I was really looking forward to the end result…and feeling like I was pretty close to having the realtor do a walk-through prior to putting the house on the market.

So on Tuesday…it rained. And it rained on Wednesday. And Thursday. Oh, and it also rained on Friday.

Guess when it cleared up and got sunny? Yep, Saturday…and the Gong Show was on.

Okay, okay...I know it doesn't look like a lot got put in...but remember, it's "Butt Gardening." Much more difficult!

I managed to plant everything but the two flats of petunias. I’m really hoping to do those tonight, but it’s starting to cloud up again after a beautifully sunny, warm day. (Ah heck! I’m going to plant them tonight…come h*ll or high water! If I'm late (and muddy) for Book Club...oh well!)

You’re wondering where the verbal assault comes in. I mentioned to someone that I’d taken the week off to work in the yard. “Oh, so that's why it rained all week!!” I guess someone had to take the blame. You can’t really cuss out Mother Nature…she always gets even.

Oh crap, I think I just heard some thunder…

For now,
Nedra