Ask & You Shall Receive

Yes in my last post I was complaining about all of the dry weather and then either that day or the next day the rains came.
My impatients are in the ground and doing pretty good. The marigolds that I planted in the pots are really suffering. I think that I should have used Miracle Grow potting soil for that instead of the cheap stuff. They are still a little green and there are a few blooms. The begonia is doing quite well in it's pot. The little pink blooms are gorgeous. The Wandering Jew that I bought is doing well, I do recommend these because they are a great plant that needs little care. The vines that I transplanted from my mother's are starting to spread more around the bottom of the tree in the front yard. This vine doesn't climb very well, but is awesome ground cover. This plant is very hearty and doesn't need much care either. I have not been able to set out the crape myrtles that I boght yet. I had to let the grass and weeds die from the round-up before I was even able to think about planting. Now that will have to wait about a week since I have to clean out the area and will be out of town. I know that when I get back next week I will have a great deal of catching up to do. I honestly don't think that it will be that bad because I hope to be refreshed and ready to dig in, literally.
I am leaving today to go visit my sister and hopefully the plants will still be looking good when I get back. I gave them a good dose of Miracle Grow and a good watering this morning. My lovely husband will be staying at home and if he gets the urge he might give them a drink while I am gone.
I am really happy with the look of my front yard right now. I am planning on putting out some fall plants when that rolls around. I think that mums would be quite nice. I will probably keep the fall plants to planters so that I won't have to mess up my beds. I love fall but have never thought about plants for that time of year, this should be fun!

Hot and Dry Weather

The past few weeks have brought hot and dry weather my way. Much of the country is experiencing this uncomfortable weather. Hopefully we will see some rain this week. I know that about a month or so ago I was complaining about the rain and wet weather, but now I need rain.
Today my lawn looks like the first frost occurred a couple of nights ago. This obviously is not the case, but the grass has enough brown patches to make it look like fall is upon us. I have been attempting to bring my flower gardens back to life. I am concentrating on them even though they are not at all what I had planned. There are not as many beds or plants that I anticipated. Gardening has not been the priority that I wanted it to be this summer. That is okay though. I have still enjoyed working in the gardens and spending time outdoors.
Some readers might be wondering why I don't water my lawn. Honestly the thought has occurred to me, but it has always seemed quite bizarre in the past. I feel that watering my lawn will never happen. I enjoy being outside, but I am not that consumed with keeping up appearances.
Rains, rains come again some day soon, just don't stay for too long.

Gettin' Dirty

I will be getting to work in the flower gardens on Friday. Work is an item that can be put on hold right now seeing that an important project will come to an end later today. This afternoon would have been a perfect time to enjoy working outside, but I was so exhausted from work that I came in and crashed. Now I am wide awake still just after mid-night. Sleep will fill the void in less than an hour. The big plans for last week and this past weekend were drowned out by work and fun with friends and family. I did have a blast but plan to get things looking green over the next week. Another busy weekend is ahead, but a Friday off work will be a nice change of events. I honestly do not know anyone that does not enjoy a three day work week. Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow afternoon. This will make working in the garden Friday either really a muddy ordeal or an easy dig to transplant new foliage. Easy dig, easy dig, easy dig. If I just keep telling myself that maybe it will come true. Ahhhh, sleepy time...

It Finally Stopped Raining!!!

Rain, rain go away and come again another day. Well, it has finally gone away. The ground is still very moist, but the rain is gone for now. I will be spending quite a bit of time at work this week, but since the days are longer I will be able to work in the gardens during the evening hours.
I still have some plants that need to be planted in the ground. I need to get more potting soil and some plants from Memaw's and Mom's house, too. The plants that I have are doing great so far. They need some TLC and general attention before I am ready to post pictures. I feel that this blog and garden are going to be my saving grace this summer. There are now quite a few projects lined up at home for the summer months. The main project will remain the gardens. I hope that by the end of the summer between the gardens and the other home projects our house looks like a completely different place. This truly excites me and encourages me to be determined in any and every single project that I take on in life.
This week and next will prove to be interesting as my work project draws to a close and I gain the luxury of personal time at home. I look forward to spending time doing what I want to do and plan to post more regularly and frequently. Here's to the sunshine!

Finally Getting Started

Yes, you heard me correctly. I am finally getting started on the flower garden. I had no idea that it would be this expensive. I am really looking forward to a summer of working in the garden. The yard is already looking better. I have planted a variegated vine around the maple tree in the front yard. There are impatients ready to be planted in the front yard. They are red and white. I have one hosta planted on the left side of the front stairs and I plan to plant another on the other side as well. I have marigolds planted in large planters in the back yard and placed around the patio. Marigolds are known to repel insects. A moon plant vine is placed on the center post of my husband's workshop. This plant has beautiful and fragrant blossoms that bloom at night and then wilt away the next morning when the sun appears.
The garden is still growing and new things are going to be added. I am planning on going to my memaw's house this week and get some plants from her house and place in my garden. Many of her plants she has had for years and she doesn't even know the actual names. I will try to post some of the pictures later. The gardening has take a backseat to work lately. I have to finish up a project before I can pour myself into the gardening project. During the summer months work should prove to be less demanding. Peace, serenity, and relaxation are in my near future.

Discouraging Delays

Today is Saturday, the day that I was planning on purchasing many of the plants and actually really getting started. There has been a break in the rain, and yet the ground here at my house is still so soaked that I am not going to be able to do anything today. I am quite disappointed but I am going to enjoy spending the weekend with friends and family. I will be going later in the week when things start to dry and buy plants and planting materials. Rain is a good thing and right now an inconvenience.
This week calls for more rain and hopefully some sunshine and breezy days to dry the ground a little. This is going to be a productive week. I am hoping to post before and after pictures of my progress throughout this week. Sunshiny days to you all.

Getting Started...

Welcome! I have decided to start gardening. A green thumb is not something that I would consider a personal asset of mine. The outdoors is a relaxing place for me to spend time. This spring and summer I plan to do lots of relaxing. Like most people in the world, I have a demanding career and don't make enough time in my daily routine for ME. I am planning to take control and make lots of ME time this summer. I plan to spend time in the relaxing outdoors and tend to a garden throughout the next few months.
There is no garden area anywhere on my property at this time. I am going to be designing a very simple layout this weekend with my mother and possibly a close friend that is actually a landscape architect. Many of you might already be saying, "Forget the do-it-yourself route and fork out the dough to your friend." In reality, he would design it and even draw it up for me for free, but this is about ME and doing this mostly on my own as my outlet. I will be going to the local high school greenhouse and purchasing many of my plants this weekend. This week I will be spending time watching it rain, and working in the yard to prepare some of the gardening areas.
I am saying all of this and just now realizing that my husband is the one that actually mowed the yard today while I cooked dinner and entertained his pre-school aged little cousin. We had tons of fun making dinner together, but I missed out on the outdoor relaxation. Is this really going to work?