I've done the paths and the rock beds; Fee has built the fence
(only the gates are left), bush-hogged, worked on clearing the tree line, etc . I've tilled and dug and hauled and hauled and raked and tilled and raked. Red clay is a challenge, but Ecomulch (a local composting company) produces such a wonderful growing medium.
For two seniors, we have surprised ourselves
at how much we've gotten done in the last month.
Oh, there have been some backaches
and newly discovered muscles
that need long soaks in the tub to relax,
but our enthusiasm has not waned.
It will when our Louisiana heat and humidity
become an every day occurrence,
so we have to get done as much as possible before then.
The potatoes are up and prospering.
My attempt at a permaculture guild.
I've done these around all the trees inside of the fence,
and will be doing many more around each tree
in the orchard we've been planting.
of the broccoli and Brussels sprouts,
but we've had some terrific salads already.
Like the broccoli and Br. sprouts, the lettuce
took off like champions.
About the only other thing I've been doing is reading.
What else can I do when my arms are so tired?
Rereading my trusty garden books, mysteries, fantasy,
and even a little nonfiction history in The Queen's Agent
about Sir Francis Walsingham, England's first spymaster
and laughing at Nick Hornby's More Baths Less Talking,
collected columns from The Believer, giving his offbeat,
humorous assessments of his monthly reading.
I never want to leave and admit to some resentment
when it is time to pack up and come home.
Right now, there is so much to be done,
both inside the cabin and in the garden that if we stayed
all week, I'd be busy the whole time.
Or reading.
Still...spending a few days at home gives me
a chance to recover from the garden labor.
I was younger when I did all this before.
Wow! This is beautiful, and also very impressive. You did such a great job. I could never do that by myself.
ReplyDeleteWow, look at that gorgeous garden! You rock (pun intended)!
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous, Jenny! Tell me about the permaculture guild? DD and I are woefully behind in our garden...but things are sprouted and growing and the potential is huge...I have to laugh when I realistically think about how much salsa and pasta sauce we will be eating this year... =-) Also, reading: I think of you so often when reading as you have introduced me to several of my favorite authors...Crombie, Ironside among them. I have been saving the most recent Crombie...don't want to read the only one left, she relaxes me so much =-) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteFrancoise - We will be working on this...forever. Our plans are so much bigger than we have had for our previous backyard gardens. The orchard we are planting and planning already has peach, plum, pear, fig, and apple trees, and dogwood, weeping willow, and catalpa. He needs to join me in retirement so we can get it all done!
ReplyDeleteConnie Rose -- :) I've done some rolling, too. Again, no pun!
DebbyMc - Here is a good link about guilds, combined with companion planting, I have high hopes.
ReplyDeleteI do love me some mysteries and have several favorites, but have probably been reading Crombie the longest.
I've been getting lots of free ebooks from Net Galley and adding new authors all the time, but familiar characters are so much fun.
Thanks, I'll check out the link and share w/DD. :)
ReplyDeleteHoly smokes, Jenclair, you have been working hard! I can't believe what you can grow this early in the year. Everything looks so beautiful. I didn't some winter sowing in milk jugs and have a few sprouts showing. We will plant our peas, lettuce, chard, spinach seeds this weekend but most can't be planted until the end of May or the first part of June.
ReplyDeleteBooklogged - :0 Yep, many garden hours logged. Our winters are never very cold--unlike yours! We did lose a couple of tomato plants to a killing frost, but most of the veggies are doing great.
ReplyDeleteBy the end of May, it will be almost too hot to garden here. Heat and humidity reduce my willingness to exert myself much.
Wow! That's amazing! I have such a black thumb, I would not even attempt that.
ReplyDeleteStephanie - What makes it work is the "black gold" of compost! We bought Ecomulch (a local compost) because I've always had success with their stuff--anything grows in it!
ReplyDelete