@funcountess I don't feel like I have a lot of energy. I just plod on. Sometimes I make a list of things that need to be done, crossing off the jobs as I complete them. I guess I'm one of those people who likes to make lists just for the pleasure of crossing things out.

I use soaker hoses for a few reasons. One is that they require less water flow than sprinklers. I can hook up a bunch of them and water several places at once. Second reason is that sprinklers lower the water level in my well too fast, so I have to wait a half hour for the well to recover. Third reason is that sprinklers water everything, including paths and bare ground, which brings a ton of weeds up. Fourth reason is that I can leave soakers on overnight with a low water flow. There are a few places which I sprinkle just because I need even coverage over a larger bed of perennials, and the lawns.

An underground sprinkler system is something I dream of, but I hate to think about the price of setup and the ongoing maintenance of sprinkler and drip heads. My brother's a retired plumber, and I've watched at how much time he spends to keep his system flowing.

I was a minister until I retired, and during the warm months I was a house painter, both of which I enjoyed. Landscaping is just something that's been a necessity over the years, and I read books and have subscribed to garden magazines - one that was great was Horticulture. When we moved to new houses, there often was a real need to plant fruit trees, prepare a vegetable garden space, and plant shrubs and flowers. Our current (and last, I hope) home had a clean slate. Over 12 years, I've planted an orchard, evergreens, shrubs, roses, flower (especially perennial) beds, worked on improving the lawns by seeding and clearing away weeds, planting borders...the work will continue until we have to move. Working in the yard and gardens is good therapy, too.

Jim