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It Must Be Winter
Nov. 2nd, 2012 08:12 pmI've been getting home well after dark a lot lately, so today it came as a bit of a surprise when I stepped into the back yard to water the potted trees and discovered a carpet of green where there had been only dry dirt. This means, of course, that if I hope to stave off another jungle like the one that took half the year to clear out, I'll need to keep on top of the growth in my occasional spare weekend day. On the other hand, the previously rock-hard ground is softening up nicely with a little moisture, so it should be easier to get the potted trees into the ground ... once I decide where they go. Decisions, decisions.
In landscape reflections, I'll also note the continuing success of the Parking Strip Project. The combination of the anti-weed mat and the assorted mulches have successfully kept the weeds down to what can be managed in an occasional removal session. And the rosemary and lavenders fulfilled their promise of drought tolerance. A couple lavenders died, but mostly they're doing ok (and will do even better over the rainy season).
More randomly: It's about time to start dealing with fallen leaves. And it's past time to start a compost heap, so I need to make some motions in that direction. That will help for dealing with the autumn's pruning and thinning. I need to see about getting my shredder in working order. (Not that it's in non-working order, but I haven't actually used it for over 5 years, so I think a tune-up might be in order.) One of the tree roses out front has died. Not the new one I put in this year, but the one that I noticed was pretty much girdled at the base back a year ago. So I was expecting it to kick off at some point. The big shade tree in the back yard really really needs some serious shaping-pruning after it drops its leaves and I don't know that I can avoid having a professional in to do it. And then there's my vow to have something resembling a vegetable garden ready to go by spring, even if it doesn't match my Big Vision for the yard.
In landscape reflections, I'll also note the continuing success of the Parking Strip Project. The combination of the anti-weed mat and the assorted mulches have successfully kept the weeds down to what can be managed in an occasional removal session. And the rosemary and lavenders fulfilled their promise of drought tolerance. A couple lavenders died, but mostly they're doing ok (and will do even better over the rainy season).
More randomly: It's about time to start dealing with fallen leaves. And it's past time to start a compost heap, so I need to make some motions in that direction. That will help for dealing with the autumn's pruning and thinning. I need to see about getting my shredder in working order. (Not that it's in non-working order, but I haven't actually used it for over 5 years, so I think a tune-up might be in order.) One of the tree roses out front has died. Not the new one I put in this year, but the one that I noticed was pretty much girdled at the base back a year ago. So I was expecting it to kick off at some point. The big shade tree in the back yard really really needs some serious shaping-pruning after it drops its leaves and I don't know that I can avoid having a professional in to do it. And then there's my vow to have something resembling a vegetable garden ready to go by spring, even if it doesn't match my Big Vision for the yard.
