I'm Getting Too Old for This

We spent this beautiful Saturday afternoon outside.

Gary was mowing.  The yard is much larger than at our old house, and it takes longer to mow.  Plus there are so many indentions and rolls in the yard that mowing hurts his back and he can't complete the entire yard plus the lane and the grass along the road in one day.

My plan was to plant everything that we purchased yesterday morning at Lowe's (we went at 7:00 a.m. and were out by 8). 

I started with the flower bed in front of the garage.  The start I had with weeding a week or so ago was barely noticeable now.  I pulled more weed in one area.  I planted the new clematis by the trellis.  I had pulled out old growth last spring and planted a new clematis them, but when I cleared out some dead growth in August, I must have killed the entire plant because it died a complete death and did not return this spring.  I also planted a new creeping type plant with the hope that it would over the area to the right of the older clematis.  That one was tipping forward from the weight of the new growth.  I noticed a bolt in the brickwork so Gary found a wire and we were able to straighten that plant.  Planting a flower box of marigolds and petunias was next and I placed it on top of the fanning mill that was left on the front porch by the former owners.

Next I pulled weeds by Dad's iron kettle that is on the circle near the flag pole.  There is a rock plus some tulips and a mound of irises there too.  Last fall I planted a perennial in that kettle and it might be coming back to life.  I think I will search for a pot of pansies or petunias to put there until it does.  One thing that scared me while I was weeding....I felt something on my leg near my sock and looked down to see a gray frog on my leg.  Ewwwwww.....I screamed a little and flicked it off.  Fortunately I was wearing gloves!  Yuck!

Next was planting the marigolds in the seeder by the barn.  I pulled out the new terra cotta colored plastic long flower container and it fit on top of what was in there.   I added in some of the potting soil/top soil, then planted 8 marigolds.  Gary found the box of pine cones the kiddos had picked up for me, and I placed those not only around to top of the seeder but inside the container with the flowers.  I hope that keeps whatever ate the flowers off last year away.  The thing is....I planted marigolds around the light pole at the other house EVERY year we lived there (which was for 42 years) and nothing ever ate off the flowers or the plants.   I hope Grant Davis' advice about the pine cones works.

Finally the iron kettle left in the garden by the deck and the big flower pot we moved here that used to sit on the front step by the flag needed new plants.  I added in more soil in the kettle and planted probably 15 marigolds.  The other pot had a volunteer pansy already blooming, so I added in a couple of marigolds and a few petunias.

Everything got a good drink of water, including the new lilac bush and the Preen that I sprinkled in the garden in front of the garage.

I did decide that something has to be done about these flower gardens.

For one thing, I really like them.  I love the perennials that are in them and the way  they bloom through the summer.  There isn't much of a need for planting annuals, except in the kettles and flower baskets.  I can handle that.

What I can't handle anymore is the weeding.

Bending down to pull weeds hurts.  My knee hurts.  My back hurts.  My legs hurt.  My feet hurt. 

My sinuses hurt from leaning over.  I had to wear my winter headband again today; otherwise, my glasses slip down my nose.  The headband keeps the glasses in place, eliminating the need to continually push them up (which is not a good idea with gloves that may have touched poison ivy).

Gary doesn't want mulch by the house.  Hilary suggested rock.  Megan suggested pea gravel. I need something to put into those two areas to eliminate the need for weeding.  If the perennials return each year, then there would be no need to distrub the gravel or rock or whatever we put down.

I just know that this gal is getting too old to continue to weed the flower beds.