Monday, April 19, 2010

Itching for Action

I want to get these raised beds in sooooo badly!  There are numerous things standing in my way... husband stuck in another country due to a volcano (I promised to do the building with him), a cast on my foot for a torn tendon (makes the digging awkward), lack of an appropriately-sized shovel.  It is suddenly bright, warm, sunny weather, and I needed to do something this weekend though!

Instead, I have trimmed back all the plants that had started to intrude on the stone pathway... barberry, something that attracts hummingbirds but smells horrible on your clothes, some large grass-thing, and very very overgrown lavender.  I should have done it before their growth spurt began, and I did a little bit, but I had NO idea how much they'd spill over once they got started!  It's always so hard for me to cut back plants because I feel like I must be hurting them, but this time I felt strangely inspired (cabin fever?) and it was very easy.  The only thing that needed massive trimming which I left alone is the rosemary... I need to start cooking with it before it becomes sentient, or at least cut and dry some once the weather gets a bit warmer. 


Trimmed the barberry by at least 1/2 its width, but not by height (1/3rd of the height is new growth this spring already).  It used to be all red, but after the trim you can see a lovely gradation from green to red tips.  This thing is thorny, thank goodness for leather-palmed gardening gloves!

At the end of my trimming expedition, I turned around to see a grey-haired lady in a blue-purple (with pink highlights) muumuu staring blankly at me.  I blinked, and she was gone.  .... I need to remember to stay hydrated after a few hours of sweating in the sun!  Hahaha.... haha....... ha.  Ahem.

I also weeded quite a bit... after a month of weed neglect, they were trying to take over!  I had at least kept everything around the zucchini plucked though, except for two plants that I thought looked like scarlet pimpernel, which was my favorite flower during early childhood.  Turns out I was right:


I have such a weak spot for scarlet pimpernel.  <3  They're such an unusual blend of cheery color.

What were you up to this weekend?

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