Posted Apr-04-08 05:00:00 PDT
Gardening. I'm used to California garden insects, which consisted primarily of snails; aphids; ladybugs; and butterflies. Mellow little critters. Texas insects? Very big; armed to the teeth (mandibles?); cranky; and scary. Even the ones that aren't dangerous to humans look like they will clean your clock if you mess with them. My disinterest in gardening isn't new, or related to my being disabled. I love nature, and gardens, I just don't like gardening. The first two years I lived in this house, I marveled at how my lawn stayed green during the winter, when my neighbor's yards turned brown. Eventually I realized that my lawn stayed green year round because it was composed of many things, none of them being grass. I was xeriscaping before it was cool. I just called it "survival of the fittest", i.e. my yard was composed of whatever plants didn't die off. Still, every now and then, I give into the Home Gardening Center side of the Force.
I bought a tiny sage bush and planted it in the front yard when I first moved into this house. Fourteen years later, the sage bush is huge, and regularly has a display of neon purple flowers. Fabulous. I also bought some sort of hedge plants for the front of the house. Not so fabulous. Out of the six hedge plants, one is ridiculously huge and healthy; four have returned to the soil from whence they came; and one is looking like it's on its last leg, yet still hanging on. I tried planting flowers a few times. I did water them, every now and then, but apparently they needed more care than that. I even tried planting veggies. Those were doing very well. One morning, I checked the veggies, and they were all eaten to the roots. The planter looked like nothing had ever been in there, except dirt. I know there are contraptions, and concoctions, to keep whatevers out of plants, but again, I'm not that into gardening.
While going through stuff in my house, I found a partial bag of weed and feed for the lawn. I don't remember when it was purchased. I spread the weed and feed around my front yard the other morning. Have I suddenly changed my tune, and become a gardener? Nah. I just wanted the bag out of the house. Truly, I was more interested in whether or not the bag the weed and feed came in was recyclable, than in gardening. I do keep one staple for yardwork - Round Up. I use it to nail the weeds that grow really tall, or look really scary (there's a purplish green weed that occasionally pops up, and it looks like something out of a '50s science fiction movie). About 20 years ago, I kept so many plants, my place looked like a jungle. I even made a little indoor lawn for my indoor cat, so he could have fresh grass to lay, or nibble, on. I'd like to see myself get back to the green thumb of it all, but I'm not there yet. Until then, it's just me; the Round Up; and the gentleman who cuts my yard.
I hope your day blossoms with possibilities.
I'll blog at 'cha later.
B-
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