Let's Talk about Gardens

Parus - about your public plant-tending tendencies - you sound healthy, helpful, considerate and delightful to me!

@parus I am picturing us now, hats on heads, gloves on our hands, and just having a good ol' time playing in the dirt! Today I did the second cutting to chop down a Japanese Burberry bush that was really intruding on the walk from front gate to the front door. Obviously it had been there for many years, as the largest branch I was able to cut through with heavy duty pruners was about 1 1/2" in diameter. Will have to get help to get the root out, or figure out how to do that. The two rose bushes that were flanking it are very happy now to have the light! That bush was over 5' tall, over 6' wide. Laid out the branches so that they will dry out and be able to pack easier for disposal. It's one of the plants around here that the deer do not like, but they are an invasive species and like to host ticks.

Tomorrow I plan to get out at first light and weed the flower bed from front door to gate, before sun is fully out.

BTW, I'm known to pick dead leaves off of plants and clean them up in doctors' offices or wherever I might see a plant in need.
Ginger

@jimhd, We share the same goal of making our properties lower maintenance. Until this season though, I’ve found myself adding new stock which means more care, not less. I’m not driving and local nurseries aren’t delivering so I’ll be counting on perennial and veggie seeds saved from last year to “fill in some gaps”. Technical question: gardens becoming self-sustaining? Eh? I missed those “how to classes”. Hope you’ll let us know about surgery date.

@parus, I plead guilty too for freely deadheading wherever there is a need…public gardens, nurseries, flowers lining the sidewalks/street…just want to encourage them along!

@gingerw @parus I sure wish some of you gardening types lived close to me! I really do not enjoy gardening at all, nor does my husband. When our children were younger I had a bartering type of thing set up with a friend. She would do my gardening and I would provide her with a great dinner, a bottle of wine, and all. Then when her children hit college she went back to work. I miss those days.
I still have to have her come over at times and identify what is a weed and what is an intended flower or foliage.
JK

One thing is constant: Change!
A neighbor allowed my father to use their large lot for gardening. He grew wonderful beefsteak tomatoes...does anyone else love tomato sandwiches with mayo?

Often, too often, many of the vegetables 🌽🥬🧅 🍅🥒were gone when he went to pick them. Life!

@helenfrances Tomato sandwiches with mayo? Such great memories! It's the best on homemade oatmeal bread, toasted. I can almost taste it. I may have to make some oatmeal bread this summer when the beautiful tomatoes are in season. We used to have a farm in my town that had the best tomatoes, prize-winning corn, and swiss pansies. Their pansies were so spectacular that people came from other countries like Japan to learn the secret and get some seeds or plantings.
The people retired and sold the property and it was developed. That was a sad day for everyone around here.
JK

@contentandwell I love tomato sandwiches with Mayo Might just have one for lunch . The other thing I like is green tomatoes fried with some sugar on them . Good memories

@lioness When we went to Charleston in October of 2018 I tried fried green tomatoes. I always try local specialties when traveling. The fried green tomatoes were ok, but oh my gosh, the she-crab soup was decadent! I regretted getting it our first night there because I wanted to get it every other night but knowing how bad it is for me I resisted. It was not easy though. Being a New Englander, clam chowder is the big thing here but I think I liked she-crab soup even more.
The tomato sandwiches are just not the same until you have the really delicious local summer tomatoes.
JK

@contentandwell I agree about the tomatoes . I loved to go out to my garden and pick the fresh ones. Come in wash it then slice it on a Rye mayo and just enjoy.The tomatoes out here just dont have the same flavor as mine did back home .

@parus I've done the deadheading, too. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I suppose that my OCD and perfectionism are the reason.