This weekend was chore riddled.
I spent most of the three day weekend just doing maintenance to the yard. Mowing both front and back, weed wacking and my new favorite, cutting grass by hand between all the plants I put into both slopes and there is not enough room to weed wack but too much room where that nasty grass with seeds at the end completely took over the yard and obscured everything.

Ben started taking over the deck which is lovely, there is so much else to do.
The best things in bloom this week are the alliums , which are glorious and the Russell Lupines are out of control. Kind of a let down in this interim between tulips and the next round, I am not sure what I could plant to be in bloom the last two weeks of May.

I finally got some of the dahlias into the ground that I bought from tuber this last February. I wish I had been savvy enough to have started the whole lot in pots six or eight weeks ago. Next year I hope I have soil dug out and pots started for many things at this point in the year.

Having a potting shelf on the side of the house to stack soil and empty pots would be really handy. There is much trash to be hauled away.

Also having a nice gravel path back there would be nice too.

At the end of the day I sat in the secret garden and felt satisfied, it’s just hard at this time of year to be able to really relax and enjoy all the fruits of your labor.

Next year I hope not so much f-ing sod digging.

The first of the spiderwort blooms appeared today. Also, the clematis in the secret garden bloomed- a beautiful pink flower.

Last weekend I started losing it. No more pulling up sod. I can’t take it any more.
The weeds now after a week of rain are thigh high.

garden 5.18.08

Originally uploaded by carolyn’s

We’re taking a coffee break as it is now to hot to be outside.

I hate gardening in the front yard, it seems a public space.
The lilacs are in full force this week, the tulips are on their way out. The alliums are arriving, but something is missing.

I wish I had spent more time hacking up the lawn this spring as it is not too hot to want to do that at all. I would like to remind myself it has been too damn cold and rainy.

We had a drink last night in the Secret Garden and it was nice.
And finally, the pollinators are back!

garden 5.18.08 -afternoon
What is disappointing is the energy I am extending into the garden is so pedestrian. I am so sick of pulling up sod, pulling weeds and all the other stuff that takes forever and is definitely not what I am in this for.

I wonder if I will be sick of snapdragons next year.

Things I should have done if I had had the energy this year:
*Started dahlias in pots six weeks ahead of so I actually plant them
*Dig out as much turf as possible when it is cool out because it is impossible in the heat.
*Clean out all the beds and pots so when it’s time to plant stuff it is not an overwhelming chore.
*Get rid of all the sod I have piled all over the place.

Considering the fact I loudly proclaim dahlias my favorite flowers, I treat them poorly.

The ones I pulled up from the yard rotted in my shed this winter.

I still have yet to plant the ones I obtained at the Feb. Flower and Garden show. And I lose my steam dealing with the front yard. We basically have an entire weekend coming our way.

Today, the lilacs are finally about to burst and it is the first time since last fall I can say,”I can’t see the neighbors”.