Getting Garden Work Done
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I enjoy getting garden work done because I get that feeling of accomplishment after I’ve tidied up my garden.
Yesterday I went outside to walk around the patio, and before I knew it, I was digging up the sedum and peppermint from the blue container bed. Sometimes that happens. An idea hits me, and I’m on it.
I like plants best in the spring, when they look fresh and healthy.
But within a month or so, the mint will begin to look leggy and tired. And besides, it had taken over that bed. And I’d like to plant some more there. Maybe a few more perennials.
Mint is famous for taking over a garden space.
It felt good to dig my bare hands into the soil, pulling out roots and smoothing the dirt around the plants. I’m never calmer and more at peace than when I’m working with my plants.
Pulling Up Plants:
I pulled sedum, mint, and lemon balm out of the pots. But I did leave one clump of lemon balm in a galvanized container. I have a whole pot of peppermint hanging under the sun on the fence.
In one container, there were ants. So I went inside for my cinnamon and sprinkled some around the perimeter of the pot. Ants hate cinnamon.
I also ordered a fountain from Wayfair yesterday.
It is just the right size, approximately 16 inches by 16 inches at the bottom, to fit in the corner of my patio next to the patio doors. It will also be near the fence I share with my next-door neighbor.
I’m looking forward to having the sound of water in my garden again. It always attracts birds, and maybe it will help conceal the noise around here a bit.
There is nothing more pleasant than sitting outside with birds swooping down to the bird bath and the sound of trickling water.
The Tree I Call Jade:
Someone asked yesterday where the tree I call Jade is. It’s right behind the wicker settee. I tried having it in the sun last year, but the sun burned the leaves. It seems to do just fine where I have it now, though it’s mainly in the shade.
I’ve made one more appointment with Southwood Nursery for later this morning. I need zinnia seeds and more soil.
It seems like I always run out of soil. No matter how much I bring home, it never seems to be enough.
Maybe this will be my last trip for a while, at least.
I do prefer the soil from Southwood Nursery, though, as they make it themselves. It’s better than the soil you buy from big-box stores.
Glad you are able to get some dirt-digging in. Everything is still cold and grey and brown here yet. I always planted my mints in a hollowed out (bottom out) container amongst my other plants and that kept it pretty well contained. I just sunk it right in the ground up to the level of the soil I used old ice cream buckets which were the perfect size for my garden.
Have a great week!
Is it safe to use nails to support an electric cord? There are probably insulated hooks or plastic tubing to run the cord thru that can be mounted where needed. Something. Google probably has ideas!
I would just need something to prop the cord up to the ceiling of the doorway. I don’t need anything to run the cord through because I plan to run it up and around the doorway.
Looking good, Brenda! I love planting and digging in the dirt, too. That fountain is pretty and will look nice on your patio, but woo, that’s pricey. I can’t put anything electric on my patio because the closest outlet is all the way around to the front of the house.
Still too cold here to plant anything about pansies. And I have radishes from seed growing in a pot on my porch, but that’s it. Usually by mid-May, we can start planting other flowers and some vegetables.
Thanks for the fountain link . I like that it has a long cord. I do have an electric outlet on my deck. I read the description and it looks like the fountain also has easy maintenance.
Looking forward to seeing a picture of it on your patio.
Brenda, the 3 bowl blue fountain you ordered from Wayfair is beautiful and then some! I also found it for an even less sales price at OVERSTOCK for $178.69 “with free shipping for most items” plus a 15% discount if you sign up on the site. Woo-hoo, save more!
Yes, that is a better deal. I didn’t realize it was on Overstock. Oh well, already paid for it now.
I did get free shipping though.
I always plant mint in a low, long container I put right by my kitchen door – it’s supposed to help keep ants out….seems to work! The people before me planted mint around the veggie garden, which keeps coming back no matter how many times I rip it out – ugghhhh! Just one of many aggravating mistakes they made in the landscape here, but oh well. Still too cold to do any planting here, so I’m still focusing on my seedlings and overwintered geraniums, Another week of this cold and then hopefully things start looking up!
Brenda, when I looked at your fountain, I knew, (really) that it was one made for you. It is going to look perfect on your patio, and it is going to sound so beautiful with the waterfall effect. You and the birds will be in love. (grin). I can’t wait to see it when you get it set up and plugged in. Hugs from WI
“Mints are famous for taking over a garden space.
…dug it up, put it into yard bags and took the bags down to the dumpster.”. You, Brenda, are one smart Cookie!! I don’t like containers for plants (we have a large flower garden area in the backyard.) I would never put any mint in my flowerbed and like You I readily dispose of pesty plants I dig up, I put them on my small burn pile to sit and wait and die (tho we have had a burn ban for quite awhile now.) I also found out that chives is a pesky little bulb, it can multiply rapidly summer to summer. (I’m still picking those things out of my flowerbed!!) And in-laws had planted “tough” English Ivy on one side of their house (with both in-laws gone we get to live in the house and fight the ivy and when I pull some out I put it right on the burn pile!!)
I really like the pretty cobalt blue of Your fountain, very pretty!!
Is the tree You call “Jade” a Japanese maple? Very nice. Those things are tougher than they look. We had neighbor’s once that had 5 kids, all under 12 and I would see them climbing and swinging from the branches and that little tree just kept on surviving!!
I hope to get out tomorrow and plant oregano, lavendar (I didn’t do well with a plant a couple years ago, watered it too much,) creeping thyme (I don’t have the lemon which I like a lot,) lemon balm, portulaca, lantana (my plant last year took up a good 3′ dia. area and the bunnies loved hiding and sleeping under the leftover leafless skeleton during winter,) and three Gerbera Daisies (one of my very fav flowers, I have one plant going on 4 or 5 years old and that is one that does well in a pot for summer!)
Like You I thoroughly enjoy “toiling in the soil!!” Have fun and enjoy that pretty fountain!! barb:)
The tree I call Jade is the gingko biloba butterfly tree. The leaves look like butterflies opened up. This tree is right by the settee.
Your fur babies are so sweet, Brenda. You can see the love that you give them shining right out of them.
And love the blue fountain – it is beautiful! If I had a ground floor balcony instead of the second, I would consider it. I always worry about weight and potential problems, although I love my plants and have been using Bloombox here in Pennsylvania as I’m just not ready to shop in person. The plants have been wonderful, grown in nearby Lancaster county, and the delivery service is superb. Love your patio so much, have a wonderful day.
Mary
Love the fountain !
Oh my!!! How beautiful is that fountain!!
That fountain is really nice. I’m not aavy enough to hook one up and my only electrical outlet is on my porch. So you would have to walk over that cord and that won’t do. It is all coming together so beautifully. Right now we have ear wigs galore. Going to try some diatomaceous earth in the plants today and see how that works. I don’t want them to kill all the newly planted ones.
your patio is already so beautiful!
and the water sounds of the new fountain will be delightful. especially during the heat of the summer.
Ivy and Charlie both look adorable! I always love pictures of them.
that running wild and free in Kendra’s back yard must have been good for him!
he almost looks like a new little Charlie! xoxo