Weeding, Resting and Dreaming

July is typically a month where Jim and I are working at a more comfortable pace in the gardens. Usually the mulch is down, the weeds are making feeble attempts to grow but are easily controlled, the vegetable are planted and the garden beds are edged, crisp and clean. As each wave of colorful perennials bloom we have time to sit back and enjoy the show.

That's not the case this year.

Unfortunately Jim's knees have decided that gardening is not fun this year. With two knee replacements in the near future, the momentum of years past has slowed to a crawl. While the weeds are celebrating, the perennials are finding out that they will have to fight for space this year. There isn't a nice blanket of mulch to help the thirsty roots maintain moisture and the grassy edges are moving in on their space. But they are well established, sturdy plants that were chosen not so much for their need for attention but rather for their hardiness and ability to survive on our little spot in Sutton.

As we walk around and look at 15 years of hard but rewarding garden labor, we realize just how much time and effort has been involved and how much our health and determination went into creating and maintaining it. Since Jim is looking at two knee replacement surgeries, we are struck with the thoughts of "what were we thinking??" when we so eagerly designed and planted  perennial beds and vegetable gardens to fill our 2 1/2 acre lot. But health and determination will bring us through this too...and next year we will be ready to renew our dreams and perennial beds alike.


Here is a blog that inspires me to keep on "weeding on". I just love the multitude of plant types, the design and the layout of these gardens...hope you enjoy too!

http://phillipoliver.blogspot.com/2012/07/pinkham-garden.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FuglDz+%28Dirt+Therapy%29