Dear Carol and Mary Ann and all of our gardening friends,
I planned to have this letter up before now, but my Internet went down sometime last night. Now, it appears to be again working. Who knows?
I didn’t plant any other veggie seeds this weekend, but instead, cleaned up and cleared out the garden to make room for them. I cut back several roses, and my arms bear witness to their scratches. I still have quite a few roses to prune, but it won’t take long now.
HH broke ground on the potager. He worked both Saturday and Sunday digging the sub-base, which we will cover with landscape fabric to discourage the Bermuda grass. We will also line the beds with landscape fabric for this same purpose. Carol asked how high the walls of the beds will be. I haven’t decided, but they will be high enough for me to sit upon so that I won’t need to kneel to work the beds. I’m trying to plan for my arthritic future. (LOL)
Today, as I drove Bear to school, a misty rain fell. Since I’d worked so hard on the laundry beforehand, I decided to reward myself with a trip to TLC nursery. I needed a mugo pine and another evergreen for the garden. I am replacing a couple of roses, and I’ve decided evergreens will add more year-round interest to the back garden. I found the perfect mugo pine, but I’m still thinking about a holly for the other spot. I also bought a couple of Helleborus niger ‘Honeyhill Joy’ because I already have one of this variety, and I love the way its yellow/green blooms light up the shade in the front garden, along with the fact, that they look you in the eye. They don’t face downward like most other hellebores.
There were so many perennials I wanted, but I stuck to my original plant list with only a few additions. I bought a variegated Abelia x grandiflora ‘Twist of Lime’ just because it was so beautiful. Not sure where I’ll put it yet, but I have an idea or two. I put three ‘Sweet Tea’ heucheras in my cart, but then I put them back. I’ll get them later after the freeze. I also saw the coolest euphorbias, but I put them back too. Although I didn’t give up buying plants for Lent like I did last year, I will be strong and resist buying everything I see.
While I was at the nursery, the rain went from a misty afterthought to falling in buckets, so I spent a lot of time in the outdoor greenhouse, where I could almost feel the pressure of the drops as they pelted the plastic above my head. All in all, I must say it was a very nice experience.
I have lots of seeds to plant, and once the weather clears up, I will do just that.
Till next week, I remain, your most affectionate friend,
Dee, you are one strong woman! I’m weak and spineless in a nursery and should shop with you (you would keep me focused 🙂 Can’t believe you gave up plants last year for Lent … love it! See, like I said, you are ‘one strong woman’ 🙂
.-= joey´s last blog ..‘PLANT’S POINT OF VIEW’ ~ CHICKEN & TORTELLINI SOUP =-.
Dee, sounds lovely to spend time just “preparing” the garden. I am doing the same. I think if this weather holds, I will be out in the garden later this week trimming back the grapes and figuring out which raised beds to replace.
.-= Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog ..Dear Friends and Gardeners: March 8, 2010 =-.
Can’t wait to see that potager. I like the idea of having an edge to sit upon to garden. I am feeling awfully creaky this evening after being outside most of the day. That helebore is a beauty. I would like a nice visit to a nursery.
What a smart idea, raising the beds like that for the future! Some days I feel like the future is NOW, when I’ve been down so long I can hardly get up. Can’t wait to see photos of the potager!
.-= nola at the alamo´s last blog ..Grocery Shopping =-.