July 5, 2010
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Tales from the back yard – part nth
When I was in high school and college my mother would say, as I staggered out of bed at 9 or 10, “My day is half over by the time you get up!” As it approaches 10:30 and my two youngest children still sleep soundly, my day really is half over. I awoke at 4:00 a.m. but rolled over and went back to sleep until 6. The dogs and I sallied forth. Glory be! More zucchini – 3 yesterday and another today; zinnias in glorious bloom; blossoms on the eggplant; a hint of yellow on the tomatoes; a nice first picking of green beans yesterday and fresh swiss chard for salad. Oh my. I am in heaven. Still there was one more section of yard to reclaim.
The former tenants set a tree on fire. Yup. Really. The remaining stump is where I have set the birdbath and around which I have planted the sunflowers. However, when the tree was chopped down, the logs were simply left to rot. Too big to haul to the street and expect the village to pick up and too rotten for anyone who uses wood for home heating, these logs have been a dilemma. How does one use them for decorating? There are too many and without a chain saw they are to large to be set decoratively about. Rats. Now what? They were a conundrum until a couple days ago. The gentleman across the way has a campfire with marshmallows just about every evening in the summer. Hmmmmm. Burning is illegal in the Village unless one has a bag of marshmallows and a stick nearby and then it’s a cooking fire. Go figure. Anyway….I walked over and asked if he would like the logs in the bag yard. “Why yes, I think I could use those.” That night we carried what we could across the street, but still there were four HUGE ones that would require his truck. “I have a friend that will help me load those,” he said. And I didn’t see hide not hair of him for a few days. But last night, across the street he drove and we loaded the logs with the help of 4th child and his buddy, and lo and behold, I had more dirt to dig.
So at 6 a.m., armed with coffee, shovel, rake and hoe I was happily digging away. Cripes! There were more roots in that soil than I thought possible but I tugged and pulled and shoveled and hoed and after about 3 hours and numerous cups of coffee, there is a brand new clear area where once was a rubble pile. I think next year it will be the herb garden and the wild strawberries that are creeping in from the neighbor’s yard might well take root and provide handfuls of sweetness although I am willing to leave most for the birds. I want cone flowers and black-eyed susans and maybe some daisies. Another neighbor has volunteered a clump of spearmint and some lilies of the valley. I’ll put the first in tomorrow and the later when we figure out when one is supposed to dig ‘em up. Anyone know?
Meanwhile, the children still sleep and I am ready for a nap! “My day is half over by the time you get up.” Yup.
And so it goes.
Comments (6)
I’d love to have a house with a yard so I can do some gardening. The light in our condo doesn’t work well for balcony gardens – we get our direct sun in the (relatively) cooler months. I might try some hanging tomatoes when I get back from the States, though, and see how that works. Fresh green beans and zuchs… oh, how I wish!
Yes, I have a teenager, again, and 10:30 would be an early rising for him this summer. An herb garden and wild strawberries sound so lovely!
I love mornings. Maybe it comes with being a teacher and having to wake up at 6am everyday, but even on my days off, I still wake up early, preferring to enjoy the day rather than sleep it away.
I am more of a sleeper-iner, but I got up early this morning to mow before we get socked with the heat. I don’t know if my mint is spearamint or some other type. My mother just gave it to me and she warned that it spreads and tries to take over. My sister suggests planting it in a container, rather than directly in the ground. Something to think on.
TravelerBlue knows this one as well. She still gets up earlier than most, but I held my own this weekend, going to bed at 3 or 4 and waking at 7 or 8. I also got to enjoy her garden this weekend. Friends from out of town helped her hack away the mildewy leaves and harvest beautiful cucumbers and marvel at the size of the growing pumpkins and smaller squash. We also strayed near the edge of the property line and pilfered sweet mulberries from a tree. The next day after my friends left the family took a walk and my brother and I tasted the unblemished parts of apples growing in the yard. My dad hates picking up the fallen apples, but the tree provides great shade and, lately, a place to anchor the hammock. I really love reading about your gardening adventures. It inspires me to do more in my own individual life and in my new community here. *hug*
I am still enjoying the quiet of the late wee hours so I am one of those sleeping till nine. So cool that it worked out with the logs. They’ll go to good use now.
Oh man, you dug up a stump on your own. You are turning into wonderwoman. That’s tough work!
I like your ideas about flowers. Those are some of my favorites. And you’ve put me in mind of some backyard clean up I need to do myself. The kids who are doing the community garden aren’t super organized with their stuff. I may have to help out a bit there. Can’t help it. Neatnick is a gene.
Sounds like there is a bit of peace in that yard.