| Flowerfreak Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 06:46 am: |   |
Ugh, I am officially sick of this  . I still have spring cleaning in the yard to finish up. I had a short break in the rain yesterday afternoon & was able to walk around & check out the bulbs that are/aren't coming up. Things are getting there; like most, I can't wait for the blooms!
Still haven't decided how I want to design my garden...if I ever get it done. I might just have to take a couple of vacation days when the weather is supposed to be nice.
The hyacinth in front of Mary are starting to come up. The tulips in the front corner bed & actually the ones under the front tree beds are starting to come up also. Only 1 side of the tulips in the new cutting bed have started to come up. I had thought both clumps were coming up, but I guess I have lost my mind.
 Rest in Peace, Mr. Wildcat  You will be missed.
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| Flowerfreak Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 09:12 am: | |
I did a lot of yard work yesterday, including cutting the grass. What a difference that made. It looks so much better. All of the ornamental grasses are now cut back & all of the mulch is loosened (except for the street side bed). The majority of the weeds are now pulled & sticks picked up. The magnolia buds are starting to show pink! I love magnolias and weigelias, even if they do only bloom for a short period of time.
Even though it is still early, I put out my new hummingbird feeder I received for Christmas. I also noticed more bulb foliage is starting to pop up out of the ground all over the place. I planted so many, I can’t remember what each of them are, LOL. I know I have a record in this journal & have also marked the areas where they are planted, but I’ve decided to just wait & see what comes up so it will be a surprise :)
After I got the grass cut, I spray painted the boundaries & layout of my garden. There isn’t as much space as I thought. I will need to take up a lot more yard than I wanted. I might take my dad up on his offer & just have a garden at his house (since my mom only wants to plant tomatoes this year). There would be a lot of room to use in their garden-- enough for everything I want to grow. I would also be able to take care of my mom’s tomatoes & anything else they may decide to plant. I could work the soil once it gets warmer, come up with a layout/plan & would have a really neat garden. A temporary fence of some sort will have to be put up to keep out the animals, kids, basketballs, footballs, etc. I am getting excited just thinking about the garden! I’ll have to research to see where I should plant each item and then draw a layout once I figure out everything we will be planting. There should be plenty of room to grow some ornamental corn for fall decoration too; that will be fun.
Now for the "more important" need-to-do list:
-fix gas tank on lawnmower again
-find exterior trimmer to replace a piece of trim that “disappeared” to keep the animals out. Earlier this week I was working on some seed starting in the 1st floor kitchen and kept hearing a faint scratching noise. I think it was a mouse or a bird that was in the wall. Who knows how many animals (dead & alive) that are in there now. I can’t get anyone to fix it. Two people have said they would, but have not come through. I have one more contractor that I can ask. Hopefully he’ll come in today & I can ask him.
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-3 lbs :) |
Hummingbird Migration Map:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 11:18 am: | |
Hiya DJ! 
Hmmm...I did see these hummingbird migration map links in the other thread last week or the week before, but I thought I still had a few more weeks to go before I should set it out.
Thanks for putting the link here for me :) |
 I was glued to this map last year. I don't remember when my first hummer came... doubt I was keeping a journal at the time. LOL! I am glad I looked at it, though, because they seem to be travelling quickly and I sort of doubt that I was of the mind that they'd be here in April. :-O |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Friday, April 04, 2008 - 09:34 am: | |
I just hope some show up! You should see how sunny my back yard is now with the tree gone. Hopefully my cutting garden will do well & I will have lots of birds & butterflies. I already have lots more little (and big) birds around than ever before. It is fun to watch them fight each other for top spots on the bird feeder. I always root for the little birds! lol |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Wednesday, April 09, 2008 - 09:36 am: | |
I got back from Louisville late yesterday. I went there for a couple of days to work on my aunt P's landscaping. I got all the spring clean up done. Surprisingly, it didn't take long at all--even had time left to go to the driving range for awhile & get a quick golf lesson from uncle D.
I had hoped to leave from there early on Tuesday, but P decided she wanted another bed put in (the one I wanted to put in last year, but couldn't b/c of her daughter's invisible fence wires. Well, I thought they had the wires moved. No. Yesterday, after cutting through the underground dog fence wires (twice...grrr) and having to repair it & find all the materials, it took a lot longer than I wanted. It makes me so mad b/c it is for my cousin's dogs and they just take over my aunt/uncle's house/yard and I am the one who has to fix the darned thing). On top of that, one of the dogs tried to bite me. That was real fun trying to work around the yard all day & keep an eye on the dogs at the same time.
This new bed is what took up most of my 2nd day. I was exhausted from the day before, but knew I had other things I needed to get home & do, so I worked my tail off. I guess it was obvious b/c some older lady that lived across the street came over & wanted to know if I worked for a company or for myself & if I was for hire. She said her & her friend had been watching me working all day and saw how hard & fast I was working & thought I was a good worker. I told her unfortunately, I never have time to finish everything I go down there to finish & just don't have the time. She was a nice lady, I chatted w/ her for a couple of minutes. She sort of reminded me of my grandma.
Speaking of being watched, last fall, my neighbor did the same thing. I was working one morning/afternoon on making my cutting bed. I was in a hurry that day also, so I am sure I was going non-stop (actually that is pretty normal for me). My neighbor came outside & was getting ready to get into her van & stopped to say something about she was wondering what I was doing & had been watching me work out there all day....how boring is that, watching someone else work? I think I just hate to sit still.
Anyway, the new bed I put in at my aunt's did look good once I got it done. It is about 15' x 5'. I moved 2 grasses from another bed & stole 3 knock out roses from a bed where I had planted 5 of them last year. They will look so much better here & they get the sun they need. I can't wait until they bloom. I think my aunt will be pleased. When I go back down there sometime in the next few weeks (to deliver & put down about 50 bags of mulch & put some planters together), I am going to plant some more perennials (probably Salvia May Night) in front of the knock outs. I thought the purple would look good against the pinks. I also might bring some coreopsis to fill in on each side or in between.
I also bought 2 new shrubs, a knock out rose & 4 dianthus for the garage side bed & planted those. I took out the dead shrub & moved the other one to the deck bed. |
It seems like a lot of people are having a great start to the garden cleanup this year. Makes me wonder what nightmare we're all going to run into later. LOL!!
Makes me cringe just to think about that. I'm glad they didn't get you.
LOL!! But you really should have pounced on that, started building up your clientele so you could quit that other job. (I know, I know, not enough time!)
Haha, that's like what I posted in my journal today. Haha!
Ugh, my back is going to revolt if I read any more of this! LOL! |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Wednesday, April 09, 2008 - 01:31 pm: | |
I would if I lived down there. I think I could get a big enough clientele in that area. There aren't too many places that close by my house that I could get, I don't think. My aunt's property alone could keep me busy at least 4 days of the week!
Mine was trying to yesterday, but today (surprisingly), it is fine!
haha, yes, I got a chance to read that. That was funny :) |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 06:06 am: | |
Planned on going to the hospital yesterday to see RW & JW, but it figures the roofer finally decided he could send someone down to fix the hole where the animals are getting in the house. I HAD to meet them there for that. It has already been too long. I feel so much better now that it is covered. The owner of the roofing co. asked if I got all of the animals out of there first. I was like, "yeah right". Seriously, how am I going to know if they are all out, and even if I knew they were still in there, how am I going to even get them out?!! I'm sure it's not the first animal that will die in those walls. I am sure there were bats that have died in there. We found them when we were renovating the house. Nasty animals. We were trying to catch them & they started flying around us in this one room on the 3rd floor. One of them landed on my chin & started crawling up it & had it's little tiny claws on my lip when I took my hand & "batted" it off of me (all the while one of our male friends was cowering behind me). One of them then flew towards DH & he had a piece of lathe in his had & started swatting & swinging it like a sword, yelling at it the whole time. It was hilarious-- probably one of the funniest times I've had. I will never forget that icky bat trying to climb up my face---eeeeewwwww! (of course that part was NOT funny)! LOL
I don't know why I just typed that story. I was just on a roll I guess.
JW was taken out of ICU last night & is doing better. I really hoped to visit yesterday b/c I won't be able to visit again until Sunday. SB has been keeping me informed & RW has sent me a few msgs w/ updates. I pray she gets well & they get to go home soon. It was very scary for a couple of days there; things weren't looking good at all & her organs were shutting down. Thank God she is doing better.
While the roofer was fixing the hole yesterday, I did some work in the yard. I finally moved the 2 grasses on each side of the magnolia. I divided one of them & put on each side of the hibiscus. (I hope that it blooms this year since it will have more sun now that the tree is gone). I also moved 2 daylillies that were coming up by the compost pile. I moved the 2 hostas to the right of the tree stump to behind the magnolia. I took some pictures the other day & still need to download them to the computer. I can't wait to see the changes/improvements since last year.
Busy weekend coming up~ have to clean the hall, clean for TS's baby shower & help with that all day Sat. K H wants to go to the new dept store but I really don't want to b/c it is no fun to shop when you are broke! TT's bday is this wknd also and I still need to get him a gift. Dad wants me to go to the farm b/c his friends are coming in from PA & want to see my collection & do some shooting. If I am lucky, I will be able to take a vacation day(s) Monday and/or Tuesday; otherwise, there will not be enough time to do everything-- the story of our lives. |
Chapter 1
Whew! It has been awhile since I've posted on here. I've had all intentions of doing so but have been super busy. Lots of time spent on my yard already this spring. It has kind of surprised me how much time I have been able to spend on my own yard! I am getting happier with the progress of it. I have had many compliments on it lately...then again I had one next door neighbor say (jokingly?!) that she & the neighbor on the other side of me would like to take turns & bulldoze my yard b/c they are jealous. I just thought to myself "Lady, do you see how much time and energy I put into this yard??!!! It doesn't just happen overnight & I don't hire anyone to do it. Aaah, I feel a little better now I think. Oh, this was during the conversation I had about kicking her 1000 year old dog. Her dog is never on a leash, roams the neighborhood and chases every person who goes by on a bike, scooter, etc. It is not even my dog & I've had to yell at it for chasing scared little kids on their bikes. So the other day, I was working in my yard (imagine that) and the dog comes up in my yard, about 8' in front of me & hikes it's leg right up on my plant. I was FURIOUS! (this is the same dog that peed in my coreopsis last year & I was not aware of it & happened to be weeding & cutting it back & stuck my bare hand all in dog pee. Not fun. N E way, back to my story about the dog peeing on the plant...my hands were full of weeds, I yelled at the dog & it didn't even blink. I stood up, yelled at it again & still nothing. It just kept peeing. Finally I PUSHED it with my foot, I was not even close to kicking it. The other neighbor's grandson yelled over at me 2x & asked why I kicked the other kid's dog. I ignored him. He then came across the street, stood on the sidewalk 6' away from me & asked me again. I turned & told him to mind his own business & if the kid wanted to know why I so called "kicked" his dog, he could come and ask me, or else have his mother come & ask.
Chapter 2
Yesterday, I went to the flower sale at the high school. I bought a lot of stuff from there. My sister went with me & was a huge help, as far as carrying things up for me. It was a yucky, dreary, wet day. We went to a couple more nurseries and had lunch in between. It was a lot of fun & what made it better was that I know she really enjoyed it. After we shopped, the weather had cleared up (go figure) and we each went to our homes &
planted some of the flowers we bought. I was able to get 6 of my planters done, plant 3 other plants, as well as 2 mums K sent over with her husband. She probably didn't know it, but also sent 2 good roots of salvia that I planted, just for the heck of it. If they come up, great. If they don't, oh well. I found one of my tulip bulbs that didn't come up this year & just as I had thought, they got too wet.  I will have to remember to buy more this fall.
Chapter 3
I ordered some bulbs last week. I mainly got some for around my statue so it has spring/summer color. This is sad...I can't remember what else I ordered & it was only a few days ago.
Chapter 4
I am in L'ville tonight. I have been doing landscaping here all day. My poor back & aching feet! I am getting old fast! I don't think my feet have ever hurt so bad. I guess I haven't worn these boots this many hours straight. I have gotten pretty far today. I hope to get up early tomorrow and get plants for the new bed I am putting in. (Urgh! I need to remember to take pictures tomorrow). I got about 30 bags of mulch put down today & re-edged all of the beds. The knock out roses & moved the last time I was here aren't doing so well. I don't think they got enough water after I transplanted them & went home. I hope they don't die completely.
I really hope I have enough energy to finish this bed tomorrow. I have to dig out more dirt & find places elsewhere in the yard to put it. I need to drag a 50lb burlaped ball of a dead bush somewhere...not sure where yet! I also forgot my sunblock so I got sunburned today. It isn't hurting now, and hopefully it won't tomorrow. That would stink.
I guess I need to get to bed if I am going to start early tomorrow so I leave here in time to make my vball game tomorrow night...if I have any energy left to play. I guess I will try to make a list of what I need to buy tomorrow to finish this job.
It feels good to be able to spend a little time on GB. This just proves to me that I would be up all night if I got the internet at home. This place is so addicting & once I get on a roll in this journal, I can't stop. That is not good b/c I start rambling on and on. Oh, was I just doing that again?!
If anyone reads this boring thing, I am way too tired to even proof read it. Sorry for any long sentenses, rambling, mispellings, etc. |
LOL! This was a great journal entry. Chapters... Hahaha! But I can see why. You have been very, very busy. (BTW, your neighbor's dog is making me angry! LOL!) We want pics! We want pics!  |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 02:22 pm: | |
BEFORE
DURING
AFTER A
AFTER B
 |
Wow, what a huge change! They must be so thrilled with the outcome. It looks so much more inviting and loved. Did you make the sidewalk? I love the way that storage compartment morphed into a little house. LOL. I also like the way you tied the tree in with the planting scheme and matched the new bricks with the ones on the other bed. I hope someone keeps those new plants watered... :-O |
I think they are happy with it (I hope). I wish I had a before picture from the side. It was an eye sore. Behind those goofy white trellises, they had 6 concrete squares (like the ones the hose guide is sitting on) and they had their garbage cans on them. There was also a 8' pressure treated post in the ground with 2 hose hangers on it.
They had the shed put in (for the garbage cans) and the sidewalk was poured when they poured the slab for the shed. I just worked around what they had. I put the lava rock there with the blocks b/c I had to dig out that area a few inches down to hold rain water because they said it would just flow muddy water up over the sidewalk & on the driveway. Right behind the 1 different block, there is the end of where the downspout is ran. I dug a trench even lower and graded it so at least the water won't sit there. I put black fabric down to keep the mud from flowing with it. I didn't know what else to do with it. I thought about putting a larger landscape rock or something there, but didn't have time to think any more about it or find something. I guess it looks ok like it is.
You & me both!! Thank goodness they got some rain down there :) |
Now that you have explained what was behind the trellises, I can just imagine how attractive that was from the side. Ugh! Speaking of which, what did you plant in the trellis containers? It sure is big already.
It will be interesting to see how the rain water section will do. If it doesn't work out, maybe they could just invest in a pretty wooden rain barrel. |
Yes, it sure was ugly back there! It is their back entrance, but the one everyone uses.
There is just ivy in the containers right now. I planted it last year. I meant to buy more to put in the one that is lacking, but I forgot & didn't have time to run back out before I left. She has some growing in the back, but I didn't have time for that either. I was going to try for 2 clems growing up in between them, but I might wait until next year & see if the pine tree gets yanked out...that way they'd get the sun they love.
Yes, I have been wondering how it is doing since we have been getting rain. I will see my aunt tomorrow night & was going to ask about it.
I would be jealous! |
Oooh, ivy. Nice. In all of that time, you could have just rooted some cuttings. LOL!
LOL!! |
Happy Mothers Day !
Worked in MIL's yard all day yesterday w/ DH. Dug out a lot of the beds & redid them. She is out of town so it will be interesting to see if she notices it or not!
Just finished planting flowers in mom's planters (in the rain). That is what she wanted. I surprised her a couple of yrs ago & planted some things in them & now for the past 2 yrs she asks me if I will do that for her for mothers day. I am glad she likes them :)
We all went to church & then got together for lunch. I think I will go see if I can find some dessert now...
Oh, I asked my aunt about the rain water. She said the water still flowed out (but then again, we've gotten a lot of rain the past few days), but it wasn't muddy, so I guess it will work ok for them. |
That's good news! |
