Wonderful moments in the garden

Spent the afternoon working in the yard. Cleaned up the raised perennial bed in the backyard. Cleaned and weeded. And planted some seeds for the moon garden. I have a lot of things I want to get done this summer. Sitting outside right now writing this down and remembering that one of the top priorities for this summer is to spend time outside, relaxing, and enjoying my little haven. And that is one reason I want to put in a moongarden this year. So that I can enjoy the evening blooms and listen to the pond as the water spills over the rocks. I will also want to put in pond lights this year. I remember summers past when I would sit outside, light a fire, and enjoy the sounds and sights of the pond. Wishing I had a moongarden to enjoy the blooms of flowers in the evening hours. This year I am going to make that happen.

I have a white rose, Bolero, that is going in the garden, I planted some seeds and will fill in with perennials and annuals also where the seeds don't take. The seeds are mostly annuals, but it will fill the space until the perennials take hold. I am hopeful and excited about this summer's garden. I am getting a good start and hope to keep it a top priority for my life and enjoyment.

With love and dirt, and soon flowers. Kristi

Pond Update

Raining for the past couple of days and now it's off to work at the garden center. I haven't been able to work on the pond since I laid the rocks around the perimeter. Got some plants around the edge and will plant more as the weather warms. Here's what I have of the pond so far.

Pond progress

The pond is coming along. Have the perimeter of the pond rocked, the skimmer is secured. And the next project will be to work the waterfall. Hoping I can do this without getting a lot of soil in the pond water. Right now the pond is cloudy from clay that has slipped into the water while making the planting area. But, the fish are living and I have the sounds of water again. I have been spending some moments in the morning just sitting at peace with my garden. The birds are singing and the water is cascading (over rocks soon). And I find myself smiling and feeling good. That is a wondeful way to start the day. Finding peace and taking it with me throughout the day.

On another note, I am almost done with the pond and it is still April!!! After the pond it is time to plant veggies and flowers. I see it in my mind and I anticipate the greens of summer. With love and peace, Kristi

Making Pond Progress

Got the pond revamped by digging out some plant shelves and rebuilding newfangled plant shelves; dirty, mucky work. And got the liner down and the skimmer in. Next project is to work the waterfall and put the rocks back around the pond.

Pond Work Today

Got off work early today and went home with plans to work in the yard. The pond has been really dropping water fast. So I thought I'd pull the rocks away from the side and get everything ready to dig tomorrow. So I got the rocks moved, went into the house and checked the weather for the rest of the week, looks like there is a strong possibility of rain, SOOOO, I ended up getting a garbage can, filling with pond water, hooking up a pump for aeration and proceeded to tear into the digging part of the pond. Figured if I was going to have to move everything for a new liner, I might as well remodel the pond. So I took out the shelf under the waterfall area, it was a mistake to leave it there in the first place, and then I revamped the planting area, by putting up a retaining wall in order to have a growing, bog area, so that I can fill the area with soil, pebbles, etc and plant directly in the bog marginal plant area and not have to mess with the damn planting pots and how they tip in the wind and never seem to be just right. With that having been said, I also picked up my skimmer today, which I am going to install in hopes of getting the pump filter bucket out of the bottom of the pond and bury the pump to waterfall hose. I am hoping this will make the pond look less bucket and pail at the bottom and more like a pond for fish and plants. That clay soil is heavy. And it was dirty, messy work, but I enjoyed the process immensely. My fear is not getting it done and done the way I envision it. I also hope that this will be the last season that I have to tear the pond apart every spring to "fix" something major with it.

I also am going to rebuild the waterfall, AGAIN... and this has to be the last time that I have to major overhaul that also. It takes so much time away from prepping the rest of the yard.

I thoroughly enjoyed the lifting and digging and being out in the yard again. I sat for a while and listened to the water fall, and the wind blow, and the birds sing. Looking forward to the season. Love and dirty dirt to all, Kristi

Spring Break a Bust

Had two weeks off from school, but still worked at the garden center. And now it is coming to a close and soon it will be "back to school". Spent too much time helping my daughter enroll in school. Thought I was going to have Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week to work in the garden.. But weather didn't cooperate. Tuesday was cold and windy. Wednesday, woke up and found snow on the ground, several inches. Melted by the end of day. So Thursday was finally able to get outside. Definitely didn't get to cross off a whole lot of items from my list of things to do. Take what I can get and look for more days ahead. In actuality, spring break is too early in the season to really get a lot done outside. Often too wet or cold. And now it is back to work so I will have to take small snippets of time and work in my yard.

Loved working outside, digging in the dirt and smelling the worked soil in the warm sunshine. Listening to the birds and feeling the breeze on my skin. What a sensory explosion.

April, It's April

March just blew right by. Wow!! Got some things started.. making notes of what needs to be done before the season gets into full swing. Weather wasn't always in my favor for getting outside on my days off. That is the hardest part about spring.. being patient and not getting discouraged when things don't go as planned. Spring break is here which is great, but in reality it is too early in the season. Sure I can get some things done, but too often the weather turns, it is too wet, or too early. This week was spent helping Megan get ready to go to school. Next week, everyone should be in school and I will have the days to myself... hoping the weather cooperates cause I want to get some non-planting jobs done before it is time to plant.

I struggle with my garden. I have an image of my garden in my mind and I know I can get it close to this image. I contemplate... how things go over the season. There are times when I can't stay on top of things... too much weeding, too many plants that don't make it cause I didn't get to that corner of the yard when I should have. Is my yard too big for me to handle? What would I do with the areas if I were to eliminate the garden area/s? It's not like I would be able to convert it.. presto, chango.. I now have grass! Is my time spread too thin? Do I waste too much time? Am I working inefficient? What are shortcuts I can take? How can I garden better and more effective? How to I etch out more time for my garden work? This are the stumbling blocks I want to work with this summer. Work as efficient as I can and bring my yard to fruitition.