My Garden: A Season of Neglect

I’ve written about my gardening successes and failures in this space before, but I've never been this discouraged. I’ve never ignored the garden as much as I have this summer. There are good reasons, at least in my mind.

We had that little wedding thing on June 12. Before that, I did manage to plant basil and a few tomatoes. I dug up an overgrown grassy area that I hated, mulched it heavily and planted white alyssum as a place holder. That’s the extent of it.

In late June, Ken had his hip replacement surgery, so I was busy nursing him for the next few weeks. By then summer was half gone and I thought, really, what’s the point?

We did get a few good tomatoes. And the perennial phlox put on a lovely show.

But now fall is almost upon us, and I need to get serious. Today I’m finally digging up the one peony bush that won’t bloom, and repositioning it so the crown is higher — following the advice of my friend Lois.

I’m thinking of getting a few cute planters and starting an indoor herb garden for the winter.

Decisions have to be made:

• Do I divide the irises again and replant? Or just pitch them all so I have space to try something new?
• What am I going to do with the overgrown, grassy mess of chives?
• How can I corral the oregano that seems bent on world domination?
• Will I ever be able to keep the lawn on its side of the border, and how?
• What if I just plowed the whole thing up, put down sod and said the hell with it? Sometimes a condo with a balcony container garden sounds so appealing.

Right now, I look at the backyard border in discouragement. But there is something hopeful about planting a garden. The hope that looks forward to a beautiful, blooming future. So I will pore over Pinterest gardening boards. I’ll dream and plan, because that’s what winter is for. When spring arrives, I’ll be ready to start fresh.

Comments

[Leann]

I have fully neglected all but my herb garden this year and have wild basil popping up among the oregano but the oregano has to be cut WAY back. LOL My mint has taken over a bed and is moving into another bed without prompting so it has to be cut back. I had so few veggies last year from all my hard work I opted to just not do it this year. I have some decisions to make, too, and I think I might let the veggie bed grow back to lawn or build a fire pit in that area instead. It would be far more useful in this desert heat we get. I think I might try some pots with tomatoes next year instead or try more root veggies around the yard. My herbs seem to be the only thing I can keep alive when it soars into the upper 90 to 100 temps. It is only because they are in a shaded area I am thinking. I will still be giddy when the seed catalogs arrive in December, though! LOL Also, happy birthday my dear! Hope you have had a lovely day and I am so glad you are blogging again! :)

[Lee Anne]

Leann, I don't envy the challenges you have with gardening in the desert. Like everything else in my life, my gardening would be a lot better with more consistency. Like if I could apply my chore-a-day housekeeping plan to the garden. Really, I can get a lot done in 30 minutes to an hour. Much more than that, and I'm tired out. Even three times a week would be good. I just can't spend the whole weekend working in the yard/garden.