Know that no matter what your gardening friend does, you will never be a staker. If you try it yet again, you will instead have tomatoes which wander all over the ground. Admit your bad staking habits and, next year, buy more of the pretty green cages so that you can tuck the tomatoes in here and there as though putting them down for a nap.
This also goes for green beans. You are a bush bean person, not a pole bean person, which fits not only your gardening personality, but also your body type.
Know that you’re going to buy yet another rose bush. It’s apparently an addiction, and you can’t help yourself. So, do some research before the new ones are introduced and try to only buy those which don’t need spraying, or much food for that matter. Although shrub roses won’t win any prizes for best blooms in a rose show, they are dependable and pretty outdoors. Shrub roses are your friends.
Remember that your idea of weed control is limited to mulch and hand pulling. No sprays to speak of (even the natural ones), so remember to lay lots of mulch in the bed next to the street because something will prevent you from weeding enough. Right now, that bed is growing more weeds than plants.
Know that you’re going to covet every plant your blogging friends have so be prepared before you head over to Digging. That’s how you ended up lugging home an Agave americana for your birthday. Watch out for Fairegarden (Hamamelis x intermdia ‘Diane’ doesn’t live here yet, but it’s only a matter of time); Clay and Limestone (land of natives extraordinaire); Idaho Gardener (her CSA and burgandy glads); May Dreams Garden (vegetables like shelling peas which don’t do well here); Gardening While Intoxicated (bulbs for forcing); Mr. McGregor’s Daughter (pretty much everything that grows in shade); Cold Climate Gardening (anyone for colchicums?), From My Corner of Katy (for all those sun loving plants which do grow here), or anyone else who gardens within a zone or two of you. Brace yourself. Envy isn’t pretty, and although HH is a generous soul, he is a man, and he wants some lawn.
Know that once school starts, there’s about a month where one child or another is home everyday sick. So far, this year has been exceptional for sickness. We’ve had Flu Type B, and now at least one of the family, ASW (my son), has Type A. That’s right, it’s probably H1N1. You will not get any gardening done while you’re taking little folks back and forth to the doctor and doling out medicine left and right. It’s what a mother does. Sometimes, the mother also gets sick, and then she does not write. (I know, I’ve been MIA, but I’ve read a lot of good books.)
Know that you’ll buy too many bulbs, and when the boxes arrive, you’ll wonder where to put them and why you bought so many.
Know that next spring, you probably won’t care about any of the above and will happily start all over again. There’s a reason they call it spring fever.
Hi dear Dee, I do hope the sickness has worked its ugly way through your family by now and you are happily on your way to North Carolina? Thanks for the link love my friend. Your post is so full of wisdom, it should be a needlepoint or cross stitch hanging on the wall for deep study! 🙂
Frances
I know you're saying this for every gardener out there but don't forget: know that you will forget all these reminders and continue happily along anyway. I hope you and your family get well soon.
HAHA! I thought I was the only one who opened all those boxes and then thought. . . Holy cow. .what WAS I thinking??? Love your blog!
.-= princessdiva´s last blog ..All Things Great and Beautiful =-.
We should all step back and take stock as you've done…I'm not sure it will change our habits but it would be fun to acknowledge them!
Hey there…What a delightful post! So true that we have to know and honor ourselves. it's the best way to live. Thanks for the sweet shoutout! Speedy recover. gail
Truer words never spoken!
Ha! You made me smile.
Hope you and your household get well soon, Dee.
Hi, Dee, this is sweet and very honest! Good that you know yourself, accept yourself as you are, and are passing along the information to friends. I respect that you are pulling up weeds by hand. (Me, too.) It's the least we can do. Love that you've found a way to include roses without the fussing some need. And do hope your family stays healthy (includes you!) xoxo
Hi Kathryn, I think that to be truthful gives others hope in their own gardens don't you? I loved your series on butterflies for example. I am feeling better. My son is still really sick.
I had to scroll back to look at the seaglass under the Agave … very nice! Thanks for the link love and for reminding me that you have to be who you are, in and out of the garden!
Thanks, Cindy. As you know, I looked far and wide for that sea glass. I do think it's pretty and brings out the blue in the agave.
I have plant envy issues as well. Mostly day lilies and cone flowers. I suppose we should be glad our friends are not hooked on illegal addictive substances instead of enviable plants.
Patsy, all I can write is LOL!
What's blooming next to your new agave? It all looks lovely.
AWW
AWW, it is a lovely blue petunia I found somewhere. It has thrived in that container with the 'Pinata' rose. Thank you so much and thanks for commenting, my friend.
Thanks for the shout out! You are so right about knowing yourself and trying to work with your nature instead of fighting it. I love the seaglass mulch with the Agave. It looks perfect.
.-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..Literally Off the Beaten Path in the Prairie =-.
MMD, you're so welcome! I've found I do much better keeping up with the garden when I am true to my own nature. Thanks for the thumbs up on the sea glass and the agave. I am in uncharted waters you know.
I am so with you, Dee! I could have written 90% of this post. All except the flu part. Sorry to hear about that! Hope you're ALL feeling better SOON!
Kylee, I'm sure your garden is in better shape than mine right now. 🙂 We are feeling quite a bit better. We are on the mend I think.
Oh so true for my gardening appetite. I see. I buy. I don't get everything planted. I will probably do the same thing next season.
Peggy, your comment made me smile. I have much repeated behavior also.
What a great post! You speak the truth.
Hi Matron, I do try, although it means I must be humble. 🙂
I am already thinking I will enjoy a good dose of spring fever. I hope H1N1 stays away.
Lisa, I hope it does too. I am already thinking of spring.
Dee, thanks so much for the link love. Your new agave — and pups! — looks fantabulous in that pot with the colored-glass mulch. I love it! You are right. It IS dangerous to visit other garden blogs when planting fever hits, and for me that's right now.
Pam, you're welcome. Thanks for helping me identify the non-labeled plant and thank you for the mulch. Oh, yes, y'all are in planting mode now that the weather has cooled and rain has fallen. Good for you.
I just love your writing. I think every gardener in blog land can relate.
Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Know that when you do return to your blog, we will read it and learn something! Get well soon, to everyone!
Thanks Carol.
Yes, it's good to know yourself and be content with who you are. I have a bed or two growing more weeds than plants at the moment, too.
Hi Kathy, well, I'm not always content with who I am body-wise, but gardener wise I am. At least for today.