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The ice storm in February did a lot of damage to our shrubs, so we'll have to replace several. The Knockout roses in the front of the house weren't my favorites anyway, so we pulled them out. I expect the builder planted the roses and the nandina there next to the house (the dwarf nandina in back and the large roses in front...???) and didn't think about how they might look when they reached maturity. We've got plans for that bed but haven't completed it yet. Surprisingly, most of the newer plantings in back survived, though the salvia is kind of leggy now. We'll replace a few. It's always fun to plant new things and watch them grow. I've got three raised beds now and have planted the usual peppers and tomatoes and herbs. I've also got some zinnia planted. I love cut zinnias throughout the summer. They're so colorful and they last a good while in a vase after cutting. We added a jasmine against the back fence and I'm enjoying the lovely smell. The butterfly garden I planted last year didn't pan out (almost no butterflies!) so I'm just concentrating on the zinnias that I love. The butterfly bushes are still there and leafing up nicely, so we might see a few. The hummingbirds love the butterfly bush and the salvia flowers, so I'm satisfied that we're feeding some lovely creatures anyway. Spring is full of promise that fades in the heat of July and August, but I'm enjoying experimenting with some new plants to see what does well in a Texas garden. It's fun to see what works and what doesn't. The geraniums I love don't do well in the hot and dry Texas summer :-( But I'm discovering some new species that are native to Central Texas, so it's a trade-off. I also have begun composting, which has been satisfying. Something about gardening is calming and rejuvenating, so in spite of the disappointments of lackluster vegetable crops and butterfly no-shows, I'm compelled to continue. Nurturing God's creation is a fulfilling exercise. --Janice
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I am not sure if what I am doing can be classified as gardening, but it is working in the yard to be prepared for the coming warm weather. It has been a week of discoveries. One is that the mower needs to be replaced. After mowing last Sunday afternoon, I was informed that the new (to us) wheels don't really roll very well. Only then did I understand why I couldn't complete the yard. (Did I really lose that much strength during COVID?) A new mower has been purchased! Take that! Two is that pulling weeds that have appeared in the flower beds is NO fun! When making changes last year I removed mesh, mulch, etc. in order to remove old plants and put us new gardening ones or transplant bulbs and other plants. The good news is that the vast majority of plants seem to have made the transition, even some that were dug up and are growing in a new place have also appeared where they used to be. I am anxious to see what the plants I got from Terese will look like and how they will do. My irises seem to have successfully made the transition. I worked in 3 of the 4 beds last year and now the 4th seems to need some care. I guess that is the task for this year. I may have lost most of my azaleas and a nandina. It's too early to tell on the crape myrtles, but they are cut back. My back really tells me I have worked hard at these tasks. OW! My plans for more plants are a few bedding plants in the flower bed by the front door, probably begonias or petunias and then tomato plants. I hope I have the same good fortune with tomatoes that I did last year. It is really amazing how well the plants survived this truly nasty winter and that hope in plants is evident every day. Now that needs to be translated to people! --Carolyn |
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January 2022
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