A Sentiment

God knew what He was doing when He sent a gentle breeze and brought a lovely butterfly to set my heart at ease. The happiness of your friendship and the gentleness of your words have touched my life in special ways and now I feel assured. Thank you for your loyalty and for reading everyday. I only hope you find things to make a happy day.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Gardening Before the Storm

I had a nice visit with friends at lunch yesterday. We met at a favorite little restaurant and talked and talked. We had some catching up to do. They are both gardeners...so that was the topic of the day. We were deciding what kind of concrete planter to buy for the base of the statue of Mary, at our Church. One of my friends restores statues. She was telling us how busy she has been. It seems she always has a statue to work on. She just did our statue and brought it back, so that Mary will be on her pedestal for the May crowning.
When I got home the skies looked threatening. We heard that rain was coming, so I thought about the plants waiting to be put in the ground...then decided to get the job done. The picture below shows the area that I worked in. We had an old Mugho Pine that was half dead. It is the second one that we have tried in that spot. Not enough light, under the overhang,and quite near the River Birch. Nothing was going on underground. It was the same as when it was planted. No root system. So, I gave it the heave ho. I planted the purple coneflowers near the empty spot. My neighbor down the road has these in a completely shaded area and they do so well. These will get some sun and I am in hopes that they will multiply and do well...with some TLC.
Now speaking of River Birches. Who knew that they were a messy tree? Ours has grown so big and we do love it, but it drops those tiny little branches all over the yard. Joe used to complain about the branches all over, thinking they were from the neighbor's trees. He found out that it was our own tree doing this. After I got my jobs done and before it stormed, I picked up a heaping wheelbarrow of these tiny little branches. I had just done this a week ago, before the lawn was mowed. It seems that every time the wind blows, I can count on the yard being cluttered with this mess. I first rake and then scoop up and do the rest by hand. Back breaking work, but it looks so nice when it's done. I got everything done before the storm hit. We got a good soaking rain....such a good time for me to plant. I'm afraid to go out this morning and check on the ground under the River Birch. What will be waiting for me?
Balisha

4 comments:

Margie's Musings said...

We have a couple of Maple tree that do the same thing. I pick up tiny branches every time I mow.

Lona said...

That is such a pretty spot where you have the statue of Mary. Coneflowers should do quite well there. I have some in shady areas near the woods. They don't grow as fast in the shade and seem a little shorter but they will do well.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Your yard looks beautiful. It is raining and storming here in the woods. In the past my yard was spotless like yours. Not so - my first Spring surrounded by woods.
Branches, leaves, you name it - a continual losing battle in keeping things clean like in the past.
But love my location. I want a statue of Mary to go in my garden.

Stella said...

I have a Maple that leaves me the same presents and also in the spring what I call it's whirlybirds. They are a mess and also send little Maple trees up in all the flower beds. I garden mostly in the shade and my Coneflowers do well. Good luck with them.