My shovel.
I like being outside and gardening gives me something to do while I’m outside listening to the bird song, feeling the wind, gazing at the clouds. I like planting seeds and small plants, watching them grow, making flowers or food. And I like physical labor. Weird, I know, but I like to use my body, feel its strength and endurance (probably why I also like yoga so much) and so the part of gardening that gives me the most pleasure and satisfaction is digging. I love to dig, I love getting out there in the spring and fall turning over the ground that has become compacted over the summer or winter, crumbling the clods with my hands, getting the weeds out, getting it ready to plant. One spring day a couple of years ago I came in from a day out in the yard and plopped myself down on the couch. Today was a good day, I said. Why, Marc asked, because you got to dig? The man knows me.
And so that’s what I did Sunday and Monday, turned the soil crumbled the clods, tossed out the weeds, getting that area between the two flower beds ready to plant the spring garden. And it was perfect, not too hard and dry, not too wet. I still have one small area where the ants have not vacated completely yet but maybe by tomorrow. They got another dousing with diatomaceous earth. I still have to turn in some fertilizer and soil improvement, a mix of compost and other stuff, because the dirt here is clayey before I plant but the feed store and the co-op already have plants out. The time is now because it is, without a doubt, spring.
My native peach tree thinks so.
I don’t get any fruit off it. The peaches it makes are just a little bigger than a big pecan so I let the birds and squirrels have them. But my hybrid peach tree over in the shop yard is also starting to bloom.
The other thing I did Friday and Sunday was take all the plants in the house and garage back outside.
And remember how I said I didn’t think the banana trees froze to the ground and thought they might grow from the center? Saw this yesterday.
Huzzah for your bananas! Spring sure is coming faster than I realized. I've seen some blooming tulip trees, and some photos of blooming Mexican plum. The local cannas that froze back are putting new leaves up now; some are already a foot tall. We've got rain now, and a wind warning for the rest of the day, but after today it looks just lovely for an extended period -- thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteTuesday was horribly windy here 49 mph gusts. New growth is popping up all over but no red buds blooming yet.
DeleteGlad you were right about the banana plant. Our names may be the same but I am opposite you when it comes to gardening. I'm no good at it at all.
ReplyDeleteIt's just an excuse to be outside. I do mostly native perennials which don't require much care.
DeleteCodex: It's great exercise. What were the other 4 objects?
ReplyDeleteYou can read the posts from the archive if you want.
Delete#1 a painting Nov. new theme, crystals, and why id my subconscious dragging up my mother
#2 my sewing machine Nov. aftermath and object 2
#3 my first house Nov. object 3
#4 the ponytail palm Dec. object 4 and random pics
I like to dig holes just to see what's down there. So far, I've found seashells, beautiful banded clay, a handleless hammer, a screwdriver, a Crescent wrench, a clay marble, and, while leveling up under the house, a bra.
ReplyDeleteI haven't dug up much of interest here but my old house in an inner city neighborhood produced marbles and other interesting things.
DeleteNew growth sprang out of my banana stumps too but then they got frozen. Maybe it's just the tips though.
ReplyDeleteYou and I both love to be outdoors and I feel the same- yard work is as good a reason as any to do so and better than most.
That's why I don't cut my trees back until winter's over.
DeleteWelcome back to the sturdy banana!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering which object you would choose for your gardening life, this is great! How many shovels have you had?
At least 5 that I can remember. I've broken the handles on more than one trying to dig something big up.
DeleteThat all sounds so lovely that I was ALMOST inspired to get out in our yard too. Almost. :)
ReplyDeletePorch sitting works too.
DeleteOh that's great that you're having beautiful blossoms already. Thanks for sharing, as I wistfully adore them and wait another month for ours.
ReplyDeleteWe seem to be having a more normal weather pattern this spring.
DeleteGlad I can still read about and see gardens over here.
ReplyDeleteGlad to obliege.
DeleteDigging in the soil is probably good therapy.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely let's you work out emotions plus breathing in all those happy making microbes in the dirt.
DeleteGardeners live more completely, less stress, more positive outlook. The soil is nurturing! I miss not having my garden- it has made me unwell, I do believe.
ReplyDeleteYour native peach blossoms are gorgeous! thank you for that satisfying eye candy this morning!
DeleteGet out there and start digging!
DeleteI miss my peach trees! We will drop t the 20's tonight. I fear for all the tender shoots coming out of the ground. I suppose it is just as well that I can't get out there and dig! Good for you, though. I always sleep so well after a good day in the dirt.
ReplyDeleteYou should be able to grow peach trees there. Hope your shoulder problems resolve.
DeleteA strong body is a great gift. How wise of you to dance with that shovel, appreciating it.
ReplyDeleteStrong bodies have to be nurtured. It's scary how fast we lose strength when we stop being active.
DeleteCodex: Hi zellrn, this is what I meant in the past. The spinning of truth. Honkong billionaire sold the Panama ports for the amount he wanted to the us based biggest international investment firm black rock. That negotiation took years and has nothing to do with T. Wasn't under Chinese control despite Hong Kongs takeover.
ReplyDeleteWe'll get no truth from Trump et al, just what he wants to be true.
DeleteCodex: I typed Ellen. WTH?
ReplyDeleteI'm convinced there is an evil djinn that lives in my keyboard.
DeleteThe native peach blooms are gorgeous. Yes, there's not much more satisfying them digging in the earth.
ReplyDeleteIt's always the first thing to bloom here.
DeleteI like gardening, but I hate digging. Partly because our soil here in the UK is so dense and clayey -- it's very hard when it's dry and very heavy when it's wet. Nothing like digging in Florida sand, which was comparatively easy.
ReplyDeleteOh, great, I love your spade, what a lovely object. I've been digging on my allotment today, so satisfying although I can't do it for long. A good hour and my back starts to complain! Ah, the joys of aging!
ReplyDelete(Couldn't bring myself to read about Trump..)