Lynda True's garden - 2019

It seems easier to conform to what others are used to, so I've gone to a subject that is closer to what others use.

Last year seemed almost invisible to me; I did very little, and was relieved when Winter arrived.

This year, I've got the ball rolling in some semblance of on time. It's been Spring for a bit, but I just got started on things. Today, I fertilized the Crimson Maple, and got distracted by a rose that was in desperate need of trimming, and it still needs some fine tuning. It's an old shrub rose, and those are always tolerant of neglect.

I meant to also weed the Pink Dogwood, and fertilize it, but I didn't get to it before the self-imposed deadline of 5PM.

The lawn crew was here, yesterday, for the first mow of the season. My lawn had nearly become a meadow, so it was none too soon. As I watched the neighborhood this week, I realized that there were only two yards that weren't being done by a service. I guess I'm not the only one who's getting old. :-}

All the Lilies are coming up, and the Iris too. I love Spring. It's just the best of times.

Well, that was an interesting diversion of sorts. I just made two identical topics (I've already renamed the extra one).

>1 Lyndatrue: happy new thread!

>3 fuzzi: Thank you!

Today was *cold* and I could not muster the ambition to do any work. I made sure that the Crimson Maple that I'd already fertilized was properly saturated with water, since the weather report *lied* to me about rainfall. I need to focus on things, and I hope to spend a good part of tomorrow on more tidying up (considering it's been mostly neglected for a year, I'm not sure that "tidying" is the right word).

Most important is weeding and fertilizing the Dogwood, and applying Bonide to all the deserving entries. I hope to make a visit to the nursery to pick up some plants as well, since I have zero potted seedlings ready to go into the ground. I need at least tomatoes, and am hoping for some Leek starts as well.

Is there an Earth Day festival around you? At ours, several places (including my gardening group, and at least one local nursery) sell tomato and other starts. It's a good way to get odd varieties (I grow some of the starts, and I like starting things that never show up in the local nurseries). Might be worth checking out - see if there's anyone like me there!

>5 jjmcgaffey: You're kind to think of that. I only want a couple of Early Girl plants, and the nursery I go to is always pleasant to visit, and has the other items I buy (Dr Earth and Gardner's Bloom brands, for example).

I do think there are some local groups that sell plants, and all, but it's easier to do it my way. I used to love growing all the odd things, but nowadays I just want the familiar stuff. I gave all my remaining seed for black-eyed peas away a couple of years ago (for example), and those were all heirloom varieties.

I really wish I could move faster on my garden this year. So far, I've managed to fertilize the Crimson Maple, and then life intervened, and it turned cold and windy.

I drove past a neighbor last week, and saw the sprinklers going. Surprise to me; the irrigation water is on. I tested all the systems on Thursday, and everything seemed fine. I set the systems on automatic, and this morning, everything started up, and my yard got watered. I discovered that the lawn service had been carefully mowing around a *massive* pile of dog poop. My guess is that it was getting in through my poor neighbor's yard. Guess I have to plug the last holes in the fence.

The grass isn't going to grow there until perhaps next year, since I sterilized the ground with bleach (after removing the pile and putting it into a plastic bag, and then the trash). Hopefully this will be my only excitement this year.

At least it wasn't the dead animal that it looked like from upstairs, where I first noticed it. That would have been sad, and even messier.

I hope that the wind vanishes tomorrow, so that I can do more general cleanup, and fertilize my pink dogwood, and all the roses...and everything else as well, including the wallflowers.

I saw bees in them, this year, and that made me very happy, considering I saw NONE last year. Today, I saw a bumblebee. It warmed my heart to see it.

It's been hideously busy, and none of it to do with gardening. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, which is heavenly in that there is absolutely nothing planned. It's just luck, but I'll take it. I'm a hermit by choice, and today was a virtual rush of people, and I'm spiritually weary. My intent tomorrow is to work in the yard if it's warm enough,and to talk only to myself.

I am happy to hear that the install of the air conditioner and furnace and reworking of the duct system will be done on Thursday, and then that will be that.

"Hideously" is one of those words that reach deep into the gut. Yah, you need to retreat and plant your hands in the soil.

>8 Lyndatrue: so glad your home improvements will be done soon! We're having the house's siding replaced (it was in bad shape) and I've put off most of my gardening because the workers are trampling all my perennials around the house. The good news is they have heeded my DIRE warnings about not stepping on my Clematis, and the Canna lilies and Coreopsis will recover, they're tough.

Today, I spent an hour of bliss outside, digging the collection of weeds out from my pink dogwood. It startled me to see how quickly I wore out; I've spent far too much time doing nothing, and it'll take a while to build back up. Still, it gave me joy, and that's enough. Tomorrow, I'll put down fertilizer, and then a layer of topsoil over it, before I water the fertilizer in.

I need to put Bonide around the roses; our weather has suddenly warmed, and in addition to rose buds, aphids can't be too far behind.

>10 fuzzi: I'm relieved to have the new HVAC system in, and done with, and just in time for the season. You make me long for Clematis. I've had it before, but I have a short attention span when it comes to most plants. My mother's Clematis was beautiful. I was sad to know that it had died before I could drive to Utah and dig it up. Purple and white, and I think it had been growing for 20 years and more.

Spring is always wonderful. I'll sleep well tonight.

I put in fertilizer for the dogwood, and then topped it with potting soil. Then I drenched the ground, to make sure the nutrients were washed in properly. It's irrigation tomorrow in any case.

I moved on to the back bed (number #10), and started clearing out the weeds. It always makes me happy to see so many worms in the ground. I carefully pick them up and move them out of the way, and cover them with a bit of dirt.



Tomorrow, and Wednesday, I am taking the AARP Defensive Driving course (or whatever they call it). It will lower my car insurance, which is due to go up because I'll be turning 72 this year. When I tell friends this is probably my last car, they are surprised. If it lasts another 5 or 6 years, then I'll just give it to charity, and that will be that. I already don't drive that much.

I dunno. I may change my mind. Five years is a long, long time.

I suspect that it will take me until early Autumn to get full control back of the yard.

>12 Lyndatrue: I love digging weeds and seeing the worms, too!

I spent yesterday and today in the AARP course, and I am more exhausted than if I'd done hard labor for twelve hours, both days. Nothing wears me down like people. I didn't even work in the yard this afternoon, since I got up early, two days in a row, and I have no steam left. Ah, well. It's not like it won't be there tomorrow...and the day after, and the day after that.

The Iris are coming into their own, and the yellow ones are making an especially nice show.

>14 Lyndatrue: I spent Tuesday in an 8 hour training seminar, and I would have preferred to take a sledge hammer and knock down our shed again.

Sitting and listening to speakers is exhausting...

>15 fuzzi: Ah, yes, misery does love company. How considerate of you to suffer on Tuesday, along with me. I slept until almost nine this morning, and had to force myself to visit the grocery story; lack of food for dinner is what persuaded me. I've eaten a pint of Gelato for dinner more than once, but I suspect having salmon and broccoli is healthier.

I'll lift my glass of wine tonight in your general direction, and toast us both. :-}

>16 Lyndatrue: hahaha!!!

I managed to clear an area near where the new HVAC system was installed. I keep reminding myself that there was no real weeding for more than a year. I still need to put Bonide in the ground for my roses, and the Crimson Maple. There was so much wind today that I stayed in sheltered areas to do any real yard work today. I hope it's calmer tomorrow. I'd like to go back to the bed I'd been working on.

>18 Lyndatrue: speaking of HVAC, I'm not sure my evening primroses are going to make it, at least there won't be any blooms this year.

They were located in areas where the workmen have needed to set up ladders, next to the HVAC. Sigh.

I do see one still standing over to the side, so perhaps I'll see a few buttercup yellow blossoms yet.

I saw two primrose plants and nearly had to tie my hands behind my back to keep from buying them. There's really no safe place to put them, this year, and I only wanted them because you reminded me that such a thing exists. On the other hand, my four o'clocks are finally showing signs of life (I tend to be impatient), and in a few weeks they'll have taken over the front bed.

I put down Bonide for all the plants that needed it, and still have a bit left over. I may put it on the dogwood, just in case. The only true enemy it has in this area is borers, but Bonide protects against all that sort of thing. Aphids are always the enemy, and I love all my roses.

I'm frankly appalled at your self restraint. :P

>21 2wonderY: It wasn't self-restraint so much as kindness. Why buy something that I know, for sure, will not survive? Besides, they were grocery store plants, and those are always chancy.

Yesterday I spent some time in the front bed, making way for the four o'clocks who are beginning to poke up here and there.

I spent more time supervising, and then just taking over, on the clean up of my neighbor's yard. He was never particular, but the last couple of years have turned it into something fearsome, and the city and code enforcement have insisted it be cleaned. I watched them use my hedge trimmer for a bit, and then realized it was mostly dumb luck that they hadn't taken out the extension cord as well. Besides, even at my age, I still have the skill set to run the thing, and to make the poor hedge look decent.

It was a work crew of two adults (getting paid) and multiple teens doing "community service" (and I have mixed feelings about all of it).

They only did the front yard, and said they'd be back next Saturday to do the back. They were poorly prepared, and I even sold a drop cloth to them for protection of their load while driving. It was a canvas drop cloth, and worth more than the $5 I charged them, but to be truthful, I no longer paint, and didn't want it back in the condition I was sure it would be in. It isn't as though it was the only one, either.

I returned to my weeding after they left, and then saw my neighbor across the street, and went to ask after his health. The moment I was close enough to see his face, I wanted to start weeping. To think that the person who helped break up a concrete slab in my front yard with a sledge hammer is now not able to walk around the corner to pick up his mail is very hard. Of course, that slab met its fate circa 2006, but still, he was hale and hearty up until this past year. Now, it's terrifying to look at his face, and not let him see too much of the sorrow.

He started telling me all the medical procedures he'd had done in the past year, and I'm doing my very best to forget those. I'm also making sure that my piece of signed and notarized paper that says NO intervention is everywhere.

I have a friend of long standing (from 1994 or 1995) that I've never met in life, who is busy dying of lung cancer (long term smoker). We were both born in the same year, and have had similar lives, and lived near each other several times without ever meeting. I learned how to retire and be a recluse from him (by paying attention to the things he did well, and those that went badly). His father died when he was in his late forties, leaving him a substantial inheritance, and he left his work, and bought a home with some small acreage then.

I've known him only via email, and we've been on a small mailing list in all those years. He was the first to offer kind words and some solace when my husband died (August 26, 2001). For a time, we were exchanging emails in Latin, in an effort to keep the skill fresh. Pity I never learned Russian, which he also had expertise with.

We've been close at times, and at war at other times, and then he became ill, and it hurts to know that he'll vanish from the world in the next few weeks, and I will not be there to say goodbye.

Enough.

As my mother used to say, the hard part of living long is that you lose those you love.

Today was pretty decent; I managed to cut back a bunch of the Iris that were finished, so that the ones still blooming would have some room. I thought about taking photos, but I'd rather spend the time working than playing at being a photographer.

I cut back some weeds that were taking advantage of the Betty Boop rose, which has managed to stretch out to take up even more space. I'm guessing that it's eight feet wide, and a good six feet in height. It's covered with roses. The Queen of Bourbons in the front is beginning to be very showy, and I hope that I don't have any severe winds for the next while. It just makes me sad when all the blossoms get stripped off.

Spring is just a good time, even if it's a ton of work. It's good work.

Cleared more weeds, from one of the back beds, and from the four o'clock bed. I waited on that one until they started coming up, but they're now that in a hurry. Another day or so of attention and it'll be fine for a while. I hope I have all the colors from years past. They're one of my favorites.

Tomorrow's irrigation (and an expected rainfall as well).

Still following here.

I can't find any of my evening primroses ::weep:: but I hope they're just waiting for the workers to finish before they revive.

If not, I'll ask my sister to send me some of hers. We've been sharing back and forth the same plants and their progeny as needed, for some 30 years.

The Canna lilies are tough, they'll be back, as will the Coreopsis.

My father is visiting, and he's in pretty good health though he did have a heart attack a couple years ago. He'll be 91 in June.

Once he's gone, my sisters and I will be the elders. My inlaws have already passed. :(

>26 fuzzi: I've been the eldest for some years, but have studiously avoiding associating with my brothers, as much as possible. I live slightly more than a day's drive away (not an accident), and no longer travel, so I seldom see them.

I have a sister who is six years older than I, and she has suddenly aged (for many years I thought of her as younger). I'd like to visit her (she's just a few hours away), but I have too much going on for the next while. Perhaps in June...

I have hopes for your primroses, but still suggest that you should request some from your sister as a backup. I may put in some primroses next year, just because they're lovely. They'll do well in one of my garden beds on the east-facing side of the house, which is in shade from 10:30 AM or so. Our summers can be killers, but with enough water, and not too much sun, I'm sure they'll be fine.

>27 Lyndatrue: don't wait too long to visit your sister.

When I first moved to the South I brought a flat of evening primroses with me. They fried in the hot SC summer and didn't come back. However, once we moved to NC, I asked my sister to send me some of her thinned plants, added them to a somewhat sheltered area between shrubs in the front of the house (eastern exposure), and crossed my fingers. They survived! Every Spring they shoot up, blossom, and then "crisp" into brown sticks during the summer swelter, but have always come back the next year.

I spent a bit of time on the gardening today, but my mind was elsewhere, and my heart wasn't in it. There's always tomorrow, and the days after that.

>28 fuzzi: I do love the east facing garden beds for the delicate plantings. I've had moss rose in there, and it's done well, and come back the next year from seed. I believe the marigolds I've had in that bed have crowded most of the others out, but I'm not planning on putting them in there this year.

>29 Lyndatrue: it's good to just put one's hands IN the soil. Like washing dishes, I find my mind elsewhere, though in a good way.

And I adore petite marigolds, they are my favorite flower! And they do love to self-seed...

It's turned cold again, and very windy, so I've done nothing outside. They're predicting 80s in a few days. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Tomorrow's irrigation anyway. Who knows? Maybe Sunday will be pleasant.

Today was productive, and I am more than halfway through one of the larger beds (and was amused to note that there were a couple of Iris hiding among the weeds). I also got nearly all of the nettle out of the bed I used to put Zucchini in. I may even try for some this year, although it's not too likely.

Here's hoping that tomorrow is also as productive.

I spent the afternoon doing the delicate weeding job in the burgeoning Four O'Clock bed. Removing all the tiny sprigs of orchard grass, while not disturbing the four o'clocks, is brutal and time consuming. It's okay, though, because once they get going, they'll win out over almost everything.

It was a pensive day, though. Memorial Day wears upon me, as I think about those who've gone on.

Summer has arrived in the area. Eighties every day from here on out, according to the weatherman. I should upload the photos I took the other morning. My yard is a-bloom with roses, and sweet peas, and almost all of it is pink. I have one orange rose, but it just provides a slight counterpoint in color.

Oh, I hope you do post some pictures. Your roses are amazing.

Hmmm. It appears a duplicate post is still possible with an old dinosaur laptop.

Today, I managed to continue clearing around the Ballerina rose in the front. It always amazes me, the size of it. It's so beautiful this time of year. I pulled out many of the older Wallflower plants as well, not that it will be noticeable in a couple of weeks. They're pretty much finished with blooming for the year, although if the autumn is mild, sometimes they go for a second run.

I don't even bother weeding in that bed until late afternoon, when it's fully in shade. The bees prefer the flowers that are in the sun, even when the day is hot. I got a fair amount cleared, and even rediscovered my old piece of wood that looks like a miniature cow skull. I'm always amazed that it doesn't break down, and vanish, but it's been in that front bed for at least 12 years, maybe more.

I await the day that I'm not irrigating, and the wind isn't blowing, and the day is warm, so that I can put down the ground clear and be done with it.

>35 2wonderY: The age of the laptop had nothing to do with it. I've done it often enough that I know it's purely random. Either that, or somewhere, Tim's sitting in a corner laughing at us. One or the other.

I second the request for pictures...

>34 2wonderY: and >37 fuzzi: Pictures are down the road, for now. Sorry.

Today I did a bit of weeding around the Bourbon Queen rose, which had its beautiful display shredded by the winds last night, or perhaps early this morning. It was starting to fade in any case, and I'll try to trim it back after I irrigate on Tuesday. We're supposed to get a bit of a cooling trend, but I suspect it will be short lived. I may look for a home for two of my Ballerina roses (not the one in front, of course). I don't find them difficult to move, but when I've given them to others, they don't survive. I dunno.

I may check with the local Rose Society and see if there's interest there.

I don't mind getting old, but I really resent the number of people who seem to be leaving me. I'm adjusting to it, slowly, but it's still hard. Ah, well. Life goes on.

Today, I managed to clear out some of the weeds on the outside of the fence. I carefully shook off the bumper crop of ladybugs that were removing parasites from the weeds (could have been aphids, strange as that sounds). It made it take longer, since after pulling each weed out of the ground, I had to stop, turn it upside down, and shake it, to make sure I wasn't tossing ladybugs in a container they might not escape from. No praying mantis, though, fortunately. They are much harder to discourage.

>39 Lyndatrue: yippee for the ladybugs!

The weather surprised me, and I spent the afternoon safely inside. Thunder, Lightening, Downpours; I hope that's the last for the season. The weatherman is even warning about flash floods, in some of the hills. Bleagh.

I spent the afternoon typing in my favorite recipe for Beef Stroganoff (James Beard, from a little Dell Purse Book, copyright 1966) on MrsLee's thread over on Cookbookers.

In fact, here's a link to it: https://www.librarything.com/topic/301959#6839896

My days have just become too mixed up. I woke up a few minutes before 10AM; half the day is gone by then. I just swam through the day, and wasn't even dressed until late afternoon. I may start setting the alarm, to put myself back in sync with the world.

>42 Lyndatrue: I have a hard time sleeping late on the weekends as my inner clock wakes me up...or one of my critters will.

>43 fuzzi: It's funny, you know. I spent so much of my professional life working with people in other time zones, from Australia to the East Coast. I've lived nearly all my life in Mountain or Pacific, and almost all my adult life in the Pacific. I would often get up with the sun, or before, and then go back to bed, and sleep for hours more. I'm glad I'm not living in China. They *all* live in the same time zone. I'm sure that's fine for those in Beijing, but not so wonderful for those in the western parts.

Our legislature recently passed a law stating that we're just going to stay in PDT, and not change back to standard at all. I'm a bit disappointed. I'd rather have had them say we were just going to be in standard, and that would be that. We're awfully far north.

I wonder if I even have an inner clock any more...

Normally, I would spend Monday outside in the yard. Tomorrow's irrigation, and I usually use that day for the odds and ends I spent today doing (none of them particularly rewarding or fun, just random minutia). I'm beginning to consider selling my house, although I doubt I'll really do it any time soon.

Tonight's a board meeting for the Symphony, and I'm hoping that this is the last time it's on a Monday.

Ah, well. As Scarlett said, tomorrow's another day.

"Tomorrow" turned out to be just a continuation of Monday, but today (Wednesday) I finally got some forward motion on the hideous amount of work that outside represents. Now I need to have a day that is not irrigation, and not filled with wind, so that I can spread ground clear on the currently free-from-weeds space.

Tomorrow is the mowing service, and I may try to work around them. I can start to trim the roses (which are in desperate need), and (if possible) pull out the Wallflowers in the front. I can repopulate them from the back, either this fall, or next spring.

ETA: The best part ot today was that, other than weather, I heard no news. I'm very tired of the news. There's nothing I can do about it (except vote, and that's a long, long time from now).

While I'm thinking about it, I am planning to trim back the weeds, rather than move slowly, pulling them out, and then return to digging them up. I learned a lesson about weeds. If you hire someone to clean them out, they will only clear to the ground. This just leaves them alive, and waiting until you're not paying attention, and then they ALL come back. Digging them out, and then spraying with ground clear, is the only way to get rid of them.

So it goes.

Speaking of weeds...

...I live in eastern NC, with copious amounts of rainfall and frost-free conditions for sometimes eight months of the year, which the weeds love! As much as I want to keep the weeds down by pulling, they always get ahead of me during the hot summer days when I can't cope with the heat. However, I have started bringing home cardboard boxes from work to use as a weed barrier. I open them up so all I have is a large flat sheet of cardboard, lay them on top of the ground where I want to suppress weeds, then cover it up with cypress mulch (cheap and not as prone to insect damage). This method has really helped me control otherwise tricky trouble spots. And when the cardboard rots, I find a treasure trove of earthworms underneath!

>48 fuzzi: I've tried the cardboard box trick; they managed to grow around, and *through* the cardboard. I've tried stones (I always have extra pavers, in case I want to use them somewhere). Nope. The only thing I've found that seems to do the trick is Ground Clear, and that's good for a single season. Sometimes I think about just putting down pavement, everywhere...

Then again, I can always just ignore the weeds, right???

The weather keeps being problematical. It's windy, and I'm old enough that I know wind is not my friend. It's very cool, as well, and this time of year, it's usually 10 degrees (at least) warmer than it's been this month. Ah, well. There's always tomorrow...

Today, it was breezy, but not the strong winds that have been happening, and I managed more than two hours of weeding. I was astonished to realize how much I'd done when I was putting things away for the evening. Here's hoping for another good day tomorrow.

I'm tired, but very content.

I spent two hours trimming back the largest Ballerina. I need a ladder to finish, and it'll have to wait until Wednesday (irrigation tomorrow).

I need to start addressing the inside of the house in any case. How many dead computers do I honestly need? At one time, I would have tried to retrieve the data, but honestly, I can't say that I really care, any more. Somewhere, under those computers, is a floor.

I spent nearly two hours on the back of the house. It's astonishing how bad something can get if you're not paying attention (or even if you are).

I wish the cleanup on the house next door had been better, though. July 4th is just around the corner, and it really brings out the stupid folks. I usually spend the evening watching for fires nearby. This year the fourth falls on a Thursday, which most likely means four or five days of people not able to think things through.

On the other hand, my area has been changing so rapidly that there really isn't the fuel for fires that there were in years past. I admit that I want to move, though. I liked it better with less people, and more wildlife.

>50 Lyndatrue: wind is not my friend, either, it gives me sinus headaches...but sometimes I put my nose into the breeze and feel like stamping my hoof and shaking my mane. :)

>52 Lyndatrue: my main issue with dead computers is removing and destroying the hard drives. I have a tower sitting in my kitchen as I type this.

>53 Lyndatrue: I like wildlife more than people, especially over noisy and obnoxious types who never consider anything but their own tiny selves.

>54 fuzzi: Wildlife are always better than people. Always.

Today I spent two hours outside, and had meant to spend more, but other things caught me up. I try to only look at the areas I've worked on, and to ignore those that need desperately to have attention. The bad part about ignoring things for more than a year is that it's hard to regain control. Still, it's worth it.

I got almost nothing done, today. It was mostly lack of ambition, and I meant to get an early start, too. My guess it that I got started around 3:30 or so, and managed to trim out the dead wood, and trim back the Bourbon Queen rose. I'll fertilize it tomorrow. I didn't want to fertilize it before it was trimmed, since it's a very old rose, and only sets blooms on last year's growth.

Sometimes I think I should dig it out, and put it in a pot, if I ever move, but I have to resign myself to its eventual death, once I'm gone. No, I'm not planning on it any time soon, but it's not the sort of thing you can predict. At one time, I thought about giving it to the local rose society, but they seem to be mostly experienced with tea roses and such, and not so much with old and obscure.

That’s too bad. I wasn’t rapt with roses until I discovered the antiques. Tea roses are boring.

>57 2wonderY: You could always drive over to the other side of the country, and dig it out, and take it to your place... I've always wondered how it would have done in another climate than this one.

I found it in the middle of an incredible bunch of weeds, the first year that I owned the house. I kept running into what looked to be rose branches in all the garbage I was trying to cut back, and dig out, and realized that some of the branches were green. I finally found where the root was, and cut most of it back to about 12-15 inches in height, and perhaps the same or a bit more in width. I gave it plenty of fertilizer, and it greened up, and put out branches, but no sign of flowers (it was fall, by then). In spring, it went crazy, with branches everywhere, but the only roses were at the bottom.

It took me a bit to realize that it was an old rose, and was only blooming on last year's growth. It took me another two years before I finally found someone who helped me to identify it (Queen of Bourbons, created in France in the late 1800s or so). When it's healthy, and if the wind cooperates (a fierce wind or two will strip the blossoms from it), it's a beautiful thing.



I've never seen its like. The blooms range from white to lilac, and some of the pink ones are mixed shades. It's an amazement to see a branch with white, and dark pink, and light pink, and maybe a lilac and white, all nestled together.

Nothing to do with gardening, below, and I thought about deleting it, but I hate when other people do that, so I've left it in.

My neighbor across the street passed away a couple of days ago, and even though I knew it was coming, it's still hard. I seem to have spent this year awaiting death, and it just doesn't get easier. My next door neighbor (even more a hermit than I) fell, and broke his leg in multiple places, and laid there for three days, because his phone wasn't with him. I guess it was his ex-wife that finally checked on him. He's now in long-term care, and I understand he's not coming back.

I have a friend of many years (we've been exchanging email for nearly 25 years), and he went into a VA hospice last year (in Pennsylvania) because he's dying of lung cancer. He and I are nearly the same age (he's a few months older), and our lives have been very similar...but we've never me in real life. I no longer travel, so visiting is out. Others (that are part of the group) have visited. I keep hearing that his death is imminent, and yet he's still here.

I keep having to remind myself that my neighbor across the street was 8 or 10 years older than I, and that my next door neighbor with the broken leg (although a few years younger than I) was not in great health, and that my friend in Pennsylvania was a chain smoker of the stuff that you buy in a pouch, so that he wouldn't have to have a filter...

I'm fine, and I'll continue on. It's just hard, right now.

I finally went back to pulling weeds, today. It was hard to focus, at first, but I finally made some progress. Just in time, too. The Gladiolas are starting their midsummer run.

Here's a photo of them, from 2016.

Wow, that's a lot to deal with! Sending virtual hugs, and I hope things start looking up.

Your glads are so pretty! They're a flower I've never been good with.

Love that rose, too!

Oh my! That’s a lot of emotional weight.

I had a very old neighbor lady who dragged herself out with a chair to tend to her gardens till she died. Subsequent owners of her house have torn everything out. But some of her still grows in my yard. Even a yellow rose that was her mother’s.

Hugs to you, dear.

You're both very kind. Yesterday was just a tough day. Life goes on.

>61 2wonderY: Nice to hear that you rescued her mother's rose. :-}

>59 Lyndatrue: I lost an online friend last year, though I didn't realize it until a few months ago. He was in poor health for years, a cancer survivor, but a lover of nature as I am. We exchanged lots of messages, emails, but finally sharing pictures of birds and such on FB. Not seeing him posting didn't cause me any worry, he was erratic at times with his communications. Then I found out that he had a heart attack and died last August. I keep seeing things to share, saying "Oh, *** will love this!" and then realizing he can't, anymore.

I understand. I truly do.

We need to appreciate that which we have, NOW.

>63 fuzzi: I think that, for most of us, there's no real difference between online and physically present friends. I believe that it hurts more when you discover that they vanished while you weren't watching (so to speak), but it's still a loss.

Today, a friend came over to help me clean out the irrigation valve. I'm getting old, and it's hard for me to unscrew it, and to screw it back on. The nice thing was that she stayed after that was through, and we cleared out the bed that's where the valve is. It was a pleasant hour or so, and the bed is mostly cleaned out. We also talked about random things, and that was pleasant too.

Life goes on.

I made progress on the front bed, and even got a start on the large center bed. I'm seriously tired, but content.

Tomorrow is irrigation (and a thousand errands; hopefully I'll get to some of them).

I managed to make plenty of progress yesterday (on errands), and even managed to make another dent in some weeds, while entertaining a really young fellow who had come by to patch a small hole left when they put in the new HVAC system.

He told me that I was really nice, and I'd like to throw out a curse towards people who feel the need to take out their bad day on those at the bottom of the rung in life. When I worked, one of my favorite phrases was:

"In my world, shit flows up hill."

Once in a rare while, I would have to demonstrate; mostly, people paid attention. Picking on people that can't fight back just sucks.

Life is short. Be kind to people, as often as possible. It's good for you, and good for them.

When my daughter was a troubled adolescent, I examined deeply what character features are essential, both for her and myself. It distilled down to just two - Honesty and kindness.

>67 2wonderY: XXOO

Today, I made another dent in weeds, in one of the backyard free-standing beds. I had it half cleared almost a month ago, but the weeds have made a good faith effort to return. While I was clearing things away, I found a volunteer Iris (of indeterminate color). I'll probably encourage it, as the only thing remaining alive when I'm through.

The wasps are fearsome, and displeased that I'd want to remove the weed jungle. More of them look like yellowjackets, or maybe even hornets. I'm not sure I've seen a paper wasp this season, which seems strange. I've seen some evidence of ground bees and their nests, which makes me happy (and very, very careful).

Love reading your garden journaling.

We were away for a week. It rained while we were gone...a lot...and the weeds are making inroads. As it's incredibly hot and humid (heat index 109F today) there's not much I can do til we get a break in the heat.

I spent time today on the delicate work. The Four O'Clocks are up, but not blooming, and were spending a lot of energy competing with weeds (just a creeping and annoying type, but it requires delicacy, since I want to keep the Four O'Clocks, and weeding around them requires care. I have half the bed done. Hopefully I get the rest done tomorrow, so that I can put down fertilizer for everything in that bed (two roses, and all those flowers).

I need to trim back the top of the Ballerina rose in the front, which entails a ladder. I've had others do it, but it never gets done exactly right. It's just better to do it myself.

>70 fuzzi: I tolerate an incredible amount of heat, but the humidity does me in, too. Currently it's at 11% (the temp is 88 to 90 Fahrenheit). The only thing to be careful of is to make sure to drink water, and to take rests in the shade.

I'll concentrate on sending you some cooler, drier weather. :-}

I spent the morning doing random things, but most of it was in the waiting room at the local lab, waiting to get my blood tested. I was fasting, and I *finally* got in at 1PM. I drove home (fortunately a short drive), and had breakfast. It took a while to start to feel human again.

It was Monday. What was I thinking? Ah, well, all over.

This afternoon I (mostly) finished clearing out the weeds that were doing their best to take over from the Four O'Clocks. and then scattered some fertilizer on the ground in anticipation of irrigation tomorrow. I was happy to *finally* see a flower bud on one of the plants. Flowers are always good.

>72 Lyndatrue: flowers are always good, I agree. My canna lilies are in full bloom, but the coreopsis have only budded. One Shasta daisy has peeked out from the wilds of my perennial garden and presented me with one lovely flower. And the vincas LOVE the heat and are blooming profusely!

>73 fuzzi: I haven't grown Vinca in years. Thanks for reminding me of their existence. I'll have to get some seed for next year, so that I can put them in.

This afternoon I started the weed removal around the Betty Boop rose. I often wonder if I'd have put it in, if I'd realized that it was an old-fashioned shrub rose, and that it would quickly grow from that lovely little rose bush into something that happily stretches eight feet side, and six feet in height. Good thing I didn't want anything else to go there...

It's very pretty, though, year after year, and doesn't care when I neglect it. The ants were living in the weeds, and I wasn't surprised. I did have to make a detour into the house for a while, to spray Benadryl on my arms where I'd been bit/stung, and took a break for a time. I'll make an effort to clear the space on the other side, where poor Buddha is hidden under the weeds. I'll probably take out most, or all of the lilies in that bed. They're pretty, but boy do they multiply.

Other years, I've put in marigolds, and there was no room for them, this year. I love marigold.

>75 Lyndatrue: marigolds are my favorite flower, especially the petite variety.


(not my photo)

I've been doing some cleanup, but apparently not documenting it here. Today I went after the Strike It Rich rose in the front. Although it was sold as a tea rose, I believe that it isn't. It's enormously robust, and has been dug up and moved at least three times. A couple of winters ago we had a serious freeze, and I lost all the tea and several shrub roses (and two trees, and make no mistake, I wept over it). I dug up this one, and trimmed it back to the ground, and it grew and leafed out as though it had always been there.

It is hardy, and lovely, and I love it. I trim it back a few times a year, but it doesn't care. I try to remember to fertilize it, and I usually manage three times a season. Ah, well. Back outside to finish reducing the height.

Here's a couple of photographs from 2017:

>77 Lyndatrue: pretty! I so enjoy plants that hold on to life, grittily, all the while others give in and expire.

People I know keep dropping like flies. I recently made a new rule that I didn't want any more friends my age, or older, but of course, that isn't practical. Besides, the latest was probably 30 or more years younger than I, so my rule wouldn't have helped.

I look forward to August. It's a new month, and I can tear off the page for July, and toss it in the recycle. My roses continue to bloom, reminding me that life continues on.

It has taken me a very long time to quit being sad, but today (and yesterday) seemed to be a turning point. I bought a new, taller ladder, with nice sensible steps that are covered with nice non-stick covers. I prefer living alone, but have faced the fact that old people can fall, and not be discovered right away.

I managed to change the light bulb in the kitchen fixture (which was the final impetus for buying a taller ladder). It was nice to be able to remove the cover, and set it aside for cleaning, and to change the bulb. My ceilings are about eight and a half feet, and my step ladders just didn't help any more. Life is good. I love my new ladder.

I spent some quality time trimming the seed pods from the wallflowers in back, and rescuing tools that I'd apparently left in the back in a moment of forgetfulness. I welcome autumn this year. Life continues on, and the seasons change.

Ooh, a new ladder!! We recently bought a 6' step ladder to help with ceiling fan installations. Mine is fiberglass, so it's lightweight, and has a top step with all sorts of nifty trays and openings for tools and stuff.

I got excited about buying a shop vac several years ago... :D

>81 fuzzi: It sounds very like the same ladder I just bought. I found it at Lowe's; did yours come from there? I may take a photograph, later in the day, but for now, the day beckons (not one single fun thing, either...grocery store, paying bills, that sort of thing).

>82 Lyndatrue: yes, that's where I got it!

Today I actually made some progress. I've done some clearing in the bed that currently hosts Four O'Clocks, and a rose...and a metric ton of weeds. We had a serious rain storm last night, and I knew the ground was saturated, and easily worked. Autumn is just around the corner, and it's nice to know that, for the most part, pulling things up will last (at least until Spring).

I hope that they sell the house across the street soon, and I really hope it's to a young family, or at least someone who appreciats the work my neighbor had done in the yard.

I had the arborvitae trimmed to the fence line this morning. I felt more than a bit wistful, since they're so very tall. It will probably be the last time I have them trimmed back, since I'd prefer not having heavy equipment in the backyard, and it'll take something more than a ladder to get to them next time out. They're probably twenty feet or more in height. The first time I trimmed them back they were perhaps six or seven feet in height. There were more of them, too, but several have died at each end, and been removed.

When the house changed owners, several years ago, I was reminded that not everyone thinks things through. He built a shed directly over part of the sprinkler system, and was surprised that some of them died. I wonder how he thought they were getting water. He had to tear up part of the floor of his shed and replace it, *after* he capped the sprinkler head under it. I dunno. I would have thought he'd seen it, but I guess not.

After the trimming was done, I noticed how very thin the arborvitae looked from his side. Ah, well. They'll thicken up again, since it's still late summer, and beginning to be the rainy season. Life goes on.

Today, I spent more time in the front garden, weeding the Four O'Clocks., and the rose next to them. I'm trying to pay attention to the perennials, since they've survived being neglected. I'm thinking that I might just hire someone to come in and weed whack the major beds, so that I can get a handle on them.

I may put the house up for sale in the spring; I'm not sure, but it's beginning to look like a sensible idea. Who knew that I'd get old? Ah, well.

>86 Lyndatrue: if the upkeep is getting too difficult...? We all will make decisions at one point.

I cut/yanked vines and small trees that had taken over my blueberry bushes. Now I need to research about judicious pruning.

>87 fuzzi: If you find any good info on pruning blueberries, I'd appreciate a link - mine are way too spread out and entangled, but I'm afraid to chop at them. I've done some searches, but haven't found anything I'd trust.

>86 Lyndatrue: If it's getting to be more work than fun, yeah - don't keep hanging on just to hang on. But when you're researching a new place to live, do consider whether you'll be able to garden - maybe just containers on the porch, but (speaking from experience, in my college years) it's quite unpleasant to go from a garden to nothing.

Here are some articles about pruning blueberries:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/blueberries/blueberry-plant-pruni...

https://www.growveg.com/guides/how-to-prune-blueberry-bushes/

Really good information here, pruning info starts about page 20: https://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Cline-Blueberr...

Bottom line: late winter

I think that once the house across from me is finally sold, and all, I may know more about whether I want to leave, or stay. I really hate to move. The house is the right size for me, and the yard is ideal (because it keeps all the neighbors at arm's length). I dunno. I'll probably change my mind a dozen times between now and Spring. Losing my neighbor made me sad, but it was inevitable. I also lost a friend that I've known since 1995 (but never met in life), and I knew he was going to leave, but it still hit me hard.

On the other hand, it's helped, since I've started moving forward again. I filled two containers with rose branches for one of the two roses that have been turning into shrubs for nearly two years. I'll attack the other one tomorrow. I was originally going to dig them up and out, but I think I'll let it wait until spring before I decide to do it.

After the refuse has had a couple of days to settle, I'll probably get the rest of the first rose done, as well. Mercy, it's a lot of work, especially when I've done so little of late.

Life goes on. I'll turn 72 in a few days, and probably celebrate the way I usually do...not at all. Actually, I have a pretty decent Cabernet Sauvignon. Maybe I'll open it up. Yep. Sounds like an excellent idea.

I raise a glass to you Linda! Happy birthday and my best wishes to you. September is a beautiful month for celebration.

>90 Lyndatrue: I have a birthday coming up shortly too! September is a good month for birthdays. Hope you have a good one and enjoy your Cabernet Sauvignon!

Happy birthday early, my friend.

My father just celebrated 91, he'd call you a whippersnapper!

Today has been about a hundred years long. The crew that mows the yard undertook clearing (with weed whackers, not digging) the garden beds that were overwhelmed with weeds. It took an astonishing amount of time, during which I did my best to clear out an area that had been neglected, including winding the hose (to get it out of the way). I quit for a while, but then went back to it later in the afternoon, after they'd gone. I almost felt guilty, although I'm sure I'll feel far less guilt when I get the bill.

It looks so much better. It's astonishing.

Today, in the mail, my precious book arrived. It's Permanent Record, by Edward Snowden. I have too many things on my plate to get through, and I prefer giving it my attention. I'll probably start reading it on Monday.

Speaking of weedy beds, this week I did a search through my front beds...for a very special flower, flowers.

Background story: my sister and I have been growing the same variety of evening primroses since our next door neighbor gave us some from her beds, about 50 years ago. When I lost all of mine in SC (too hot in the location I'd chosen) my sister sent me a few bare-root plants from her beds. When she moved to Minnesota from Oregon last year she forgot to bring some with her, so I mailed her a few plants. We've been doing this back and forth sharing for 30 years or so.

So when the siding installers left in late May and I discovered the primroses in my front beds had been trampled to death I didn't worry, as I knew if the primroses didn't recover I could ask my sister for an infusion once the weather cooled down.

Bad news: this weekend I found out that she lost all of her plants in a Minnesota winter. Upon hearing of this calamity I promptly went outside and tackled the weedy flower beds in the front, carefully removing the Partridge pea and wild strawberries that have been taking over since hot weather arrived...and I found three tiny primrose plants!

They have now been transplanted into my herb planter where I can keep an eye on them, keeping them well-watered and protected from outside dangers. If I can get them through the winter, they'll take over and do the rest!

>95 fuzzi: Ah, a likely happy ending to the story, then.

My Four O'Clocks are from seed from a neighbor who's been gone for years, and they were from plants she'd planted when they'd bought the house, in the seventies. They're the old fashioned variety, sturdy and hard to kill (and lovely). I have Iris from my mother's garden, and some from my late husband as well. One of the Iris from her garden was one she'd moved from place to place as I grew up, and they're now in my back yard.

They were from plants that were originally planted in the same city I now live in (and moved back to when I retired). I remember the Iris from when I was a little girl, and they're at least 65 years old. My mother probably got them from her sister, who also lived here.

My Iris are about to be put to bed for the winter, but in the spring, they'll wave hello to your Primroses.

I went after the garden bed that was most neglected, and managed to dig some of it free. I'll hit it again tomorrow.

Things have been neglected (some more than others) for almost two years. It's overdue for a cleanup.

I made significant progress in the front bed, including trimming back the Chinese Lilies and the Gladiolus (which were lovely this year, as always). I should probably put some bone meal around them tonight, since I irrigate tomorrow (and I'm positive I won't want to be outside that early in the morning).

Off to do that right now, before it gets dark (and cold).

Not yet dark, but heading towards cold. Already 69 F, and headed towards the fifties tonight. Summer is over, without question. I was surprised to realize that I was close to out on bone meal. I had multiple bags that I suppose I thought were bone meal, but they're blood meal instead. Guess I know where I'll head tomorrow.

It's been down in the upper 50s here at night, too, but the days are still in the 80s.

I'm feeling especially mortal today; probably the approach of winter (even though autumn is struggling to show itself).

From John M. Ford, found here (and probably in collections as well).

http://nielsenhayden.com/electrolite/archives/003789.html

The worm drives helically through the wood
And does not know the dust left in the bore
Once made the table integral and good;
And suddenly the crystal hits the floor.
Electrons find their paths in subtle ways,
A massless eddy in a trail of smoke;
The names of lovers, light of other days --
Perhaps you will not miss them. That's the joke.
The universe winds down. That's how it's made.
But memory is everything to lose;
Although some of the colors have to fade,
Do not believe you'll get the chance to choose.
Regret, by definition, comes too late;
Say what you mean. Bear witness. Iterate.

(In response to the subject entitled "De vermis" and posted on October 13, 2003.)

There can never be too much beauty in the world.

>100 fuzzi: Oh, if I thought it was cold before... This morning I turned on the heat. It's September, and it's been quite a few years since I needed to do that. Saturday was not all that warm, but I didn't think much about it. Usually, this time of year, even if it gets cold at night, the days are enough to heat the house, and it only loses a few degrees overnight.

Just last night. I woke up in the middle of the night (I'd bumped the timer for the living room light, and it turned on, as "requested" (oops) at 1:30 AM. I got up, looked at the timer, and noticed that it had been inadvertently bumped. As I was fixing that, I realized that I felt extra chilled. The temperature was 65 degrees! Nope. Nope nope nope.

I set it to activate, and in ten or fifteen, it was a pleasant sleeping temperature of 68, and I slept until nearly 7 AM.

The best thing about Sunday is that there's absolutely no reason to go outside. I washed my hair (in the early afternoon), and that's been the extent of my effort today. I watched a couple of movies I hadn't seen in many years (notably, "Running on Empty"), and have done little of import, other than that. Today, the high was 47; yesterday it was 56, and I objected to that as well.

I'm grateful that it didn't hit freezing. It's too soon to lose things; that's two or three weeks out, at least.

Brr, that's chilly. We are having record heat this week, but it should be closer to average temps by the weekend. I'm looking forward to 50s at night. :)

It's that time of year. Today, my ex-neighbor came over to blow out the irrigation system. Tomorrow, when it's warmer, I'll cut back the Four O'Clocks. We had two nights of frost, and although last night only hit 32, it was enough to finish them off (the previous night was 28). There are a bunch of small plants that were just getting started that still look fine, but I'm going to cut all of them. They'll probably regrow (it's still pretty early), but it will be a lot easier to clean the stragglers up.

Time to start taking the house cleaning seriously, I suppose. ;-}

Today, I spent a bit of time cutting out the damaged Four O'Clocks, and doing my best to let the unharmed newer growth continue. I finally wore out (too long on my knees), and moved to trimming back some of the Hydrangea. I try very hard to keep it a manageable size, but it's hard to cut it back when it's so lovely.

This one grows well in colder climates, and I'm ever grateful to have put it in.

(Hydrangea Paniculata: "Little Lamb")

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lyndatrue/24838954358/in/album-72157687846288672/

(Yes, I'm too lazy to put in as an image. Another time.)

Yesterday and today, it poured rain, which means that I really need to take advantage of the next few days, before the cold weather sets in.

In order of importance:

Hydrangea has to be trimmed.
Four O'Clocks need to be cut to the ground (even though they'd still like to grow, it's time to clear them out for the spring).
Roses need to be trimmed back, starting with the orange one (Strike It Rich), and then doing the three Ballerinas.

I'd like to get the Iris in the back cleaned up, too, but I'm betting against it.

We've not yet had frost, probably will get to the 32 mark in a couple weeks.

The lows have been in the 40s, one night it was 39, so we're getting closer.

Frost may not have arrived yet, but it's only a matter of days. I cleared out the rest of the Four O'Clocks, and trimmed back the tea rose. I managed to get part of the largest Ballerina trimmed, but I need to drag out the ladder to do the rest. Sometimes when I look at it, and remember that it was just a few sticks in the ground when I bought the house, I'm amazed.

I still need to get the rest of the Hydrangea, and the Ballerina in the large bed in the front. I'd like to spruce up the other one, but it'll be fine if I don't get to it.

Boy, this season change has lit your fire. Busy! Don't overdo it.

>109 2wonderY: It's not so much that a fire's been lit, as it is a sudden recognition that winter is just around the corner. I'm still ambivalent about selling. I like my house, and I like having the space from others. I'm just not sure that I want to keep maintaining it all.

Ah, well. Time has a way of making decisions for us, no matter when we decide.

>110 Lyndatrue: you're squirreling, getting ready for winter!

>111 fuzzi: Okay, that comment made me laugh. :-} There's more than an element of truth there, I suppose.

Today, before the wind wound itself up to 40MPH or so, I was out there, trimming off things that need trimming. I'm always very meticulous with the Hydrangea, which means that it takes a long, long while. I managed to drag some random folks into helping me trim the rest of the massive Ballerina, which I usually just do with a ladder. The thing is, I don't want to be on a ladder with all that wind.

Ah, well. Tomorrow is another day...

>112 Lyndatrue: I need to trim my hydrangeas, had NO blooms this year.

With so many other things to do around my yard I spent a couple hours yesterday removing my little 20g pond and preparing the spot for another 120g preform that I bought at a yard sale. It's an addiction...

>113 fuzzi: I'm surprised to hear that you had no blooms on your hydrangea. I wonder if there was a surprise cold spell that killed the blooms, or something similar. What variety was it?

Mine is especially suited to colder, northern climates. To save the few moments in searching, the official name is Hydrangea Paniculata (Little Lamb). I've spent the day inside, rather than finishing my yard work, but I expect to get back outside tomorrow.

>114 Lyndatrue: I don't know the variety, the bushes were here when we bought the house 13 years ago.

>115 fuzzi: Ah, well. Perhaps your Hydrangea will bloom next year, and you'll manage a photograph or two. I'm mostly curious, to be honest. I do fertilize mine, although this year everything has been neglected, mostly.

Today was the first actual snowfall of the season. It may total as much as an inch or two. The temperature is currently only 28 (Fahrenheit), and I doubt that it will be above freezing, so it's likely to stay for a day or so. Sunday was a near perfect day for this, since the only real traffic is to church (for those that attend).

I'm expecting a wine delivery today (yes, on Sunday, via FedEx). I can't say that I'm pleased, but that's the way it goes. It's not like I was going anywhere.

I was tempted to photograph the snow-covered yard, with the grass poking out through it, but it's cold outside, and I'm still in a nightgown and bathrobe. You'll just have to use your imagination.

>117 Lyndatrue: I've seen plenty of snow in 59 years, no need for you to go outside in the cold!