How did you spend your weekend? I spent mine digging in the dirt. I have 17 days to transform the mess I call my garden into a Garden of Eden before my son's wedding. Yesterday it felt like I was fighting a losing battle. Where did all those weed trees come from and how did they manage to sprout up when all the plants that cost me a kings ransom didn’t survive the ravishes of winter or haven't had the courage to break ground yet.
Last night, even though the day was lovely, sun shining with temperatures in the high 60’s there was a frost advisory. In a panic I ran out of the house to bring in or cover newly purchased young plants. While stretching to reach the hanging baskets, one slipped out of my grasp and narrowly missed my head..but did splatter all over the patio. First casualty of my rescue mission. I shoved the potting soil back into the basket and plopped the flowers very unceremoniously back into the basket. I have yet to check the poor basket to see how much damage has been done. Hopefully I can salvage it.
Next I grabbed the very large and very heavy wooden barrel. I planted the barrel with an assortment of vividly coloured pansies only a few hours earlier. The barrel stood a few feet from the back door. I grabbed it with both hands and with a grunt heaved it up and headed for the back door. Just as I stepped over the threshold of the back door, I lost my footing…did I mention the barrel was quite heavy. I became distracted as I tried to right myself, not wanting to land on the floor. The basket suddenly felt much lighter. It was then I noticed I was holding an empty barrel. Yes indeed Bloggie friends the bottom had fallen out of the barrel. All the soil and the now not so pretty pansies lay in a large splat on my mudroom floor. Unladylike words spilled my lips and filled the air as I went in search of a new pot to replace the bottomless barrel.
Next hurdle was to get down on my knees to retrieve and re-pot the soil and pansies.…not an easy feat after three days of major weed pulling dragging, digging and raking. I was moving like the newly discovered Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz.
I wonder if the frost would have done as much damage to my plants……….
23 comments:
A garden to a Garden of Eden? Not a daunting task! No wonder your back aches. When is this wedding anyway?
I don't have a green thumb. My husband is the gardener. He keeps the plants alive in our house too.
A wedding and a baby so close together. Big things going on in your family!
Wish I were there to help you! It sounds like you need a crew of more than one to do this job. we had my oldest son's wedding reception at our home, and I clearly remember the hours and hours of hard labor it took to get the house and the backyard nice enough! Gah!
Yikes! That sounds like my idea of hell. I can't wait to see the finished result.
Ann!!! Oh dear!! I have this image of you all bandaged up on crutches and still trying to get your garden all spick and span! LOL! Awwww!! I think you should now sit down and have a nice cup of tea! I hope the frost doesn't materialise!!
Take care
x
Sorry the bottom fell out of your barrel! - there must be a hallmark card for that.
An Irishwoman saying unladylike words, I don't believe it.
Good luck with the wedding preparations, mind yourself and have a sit down.
Oh gosh. Sounds like your son's wedding is the same day as my daughter's graduation...and party and due to inclement weather for just about ALL of May so far, I haven't even begun. I'll know to check the bottom of barrels though, with this rain, there is sure to be rot! Good luck!
What a veritable catalogue of disasters!! But now you've got that over with you can look forward to a wonderful, event-free wedding. Enjoy!! And take care of that back.
Ooh...I'm sorry your gardening gave you such a hard time! I rarely garden, but once or twice a year I can't avoid getting out there and doing some damage. So I gardened on Friday, then painted the basement on Monday. My back is killing me! But it's back to the basement to finish up painting tomorrow. Hopefully after that I'll be able to give my aches and pains a rest. :)
Oh, please don't get stressed out. Weddings are not easy. I don't mean to scare you, but take it from an old timer mothers get aches and pains in every joint even long after the guests have left. Why do you think wedding planners charge so much?
I'm in pain just thinking about the aches you must be feeling.
I'm soooo not a gardener, so kudos to you!!
lol oh no! I hope you're not too sore. Back breaking stuff this gardening business!
Hi Ann .. that's so frustrating .. sounds like more haste less speed - and crumbs when you're anxious about all things .. spills happen & frosts do or don't!!
Good luck with everything and I do hope the plants survive their untimely tip out .. they're pretty resilient .. more so than our old bones!
Cheers and I'm think of you .. look after yourself .. Hilary
Ahh, yes, the trials and tribulations of gardening. I know them well. I've got the blisters and cuts to prove it. Good luck with your gardening marathon. Be sure to post some pics.
Oh, you poor thing! (Sorry, I'm laughing as imagine the splats, but I do feel sorry for you. lol)
Last night I worried about everything I planted too, but it looks like the snow and frost stayed against the mountain and mine were barely saved.
Hope your back is feeling better! Hugs!
Ohhh, but I felt for you, Ann. Dirt and plants everywhere. It's a good thing, though, your head didn't get hit. I really, really wish I could help you. Hey, lots of Miracle Grow! And, good luck...there's a lot going on in your family. Lots of hugs! (Don't worry; the wedding's going to be fabulous!)
I would love to have a yard/garden to work in! So I'm envious. And I hope it's a lovely wedding. I know how much work such weddings are; I've survived 3 such weddings with two daughters and a son.
I came over from KarenG's post about my memoir launching, where you say you have my book on order. Thank you! I hope it arrives soon. I'll look forward to your response--whatever it is.
p.s. That comment above by "manda" caught my eye. I got the same one on my last post, so now I'm thinking it's a spammer (I deleted it). I don't worry about such. I'm open to all comments and have gotten very few of these, maybe 3 at the most in my year of blogging. Just thought this was interesting.
Ann Best, Memoir Author
Sounds like you've undertaken a humongous task! I do hope by the time of the wedding the garden is beautiful. And if it's not quite what you hoped, remember, folks won't be looking at the garden when there's a bride and groom around.
I love pictures of dogs and cats getting along. Those two seem quite friendly!
YIKES. I wish you the best of luck!! :)
I do not enjoying planting ...
You poor thing, I would have cried when the bottom fell out. I hope you have a wonderful day and that your son appreciates all your efforts, I'm sure he will. Don't forget the wedding photo's on here please
I've given you an award!
You can pick it up at: http://www.margokelly.blogspot.com
I'm doing the same thing but not under any gun, like you are. I left this house in Bozeman for nearly 10 years and recently moved back. All the flower gardens have bit the dust and I'm frantically trying to restore them.
So sorry about your accident. Things may look bleak but it always turns right again.
Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck
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