Friday, April 16, 2010

Happy spring gardeners!

I'm back in the blogosphere !

We've had a wonderful North Dakota spring .... little to no flooding and no SNOW in April so far. The grass is green and the perennials are starting to poke their heads out of the dirt. It instantly is a mood lifter.

The highlight of my winter was attending a gardening seminar of the Renegade Gardener Don Engebretson of Minnesota. What a treat it was to hear him in person. I have been reading his blog for the last few years and love his irreverent and no-nonsense approach to gardening and landscaping. He gave us great ideas for container plantings that I am sure to incorporate this summer.

I also have reassessed my garden and have decided to (gasp!) scale back. Of course, I say that now, and by June I'll be back daydreaming about expanding another bed. Why scale back? For lack of a more eloquent answer ... I bit off more than I could chew. By the end of last summer, I was tired of having so many different planting areas and trying too many things. I felt my landscape lacked "oomph". I had too much of too many different things. In other words, it just ain't workin' for me anymore.

It would be differently, surely, if I only worked part-time, and I would have more time to experiment and hand-hold my garden beds. But it just won't happen. I will make the first of many trips to the local hardware store and purchase grass seed and fill in areas that didn't work.

Somewhere, my husband is shaking his head and saying, "I told you so."

Sigh.

11 comments:

Blasé said...

My wife is going out today to tend to her lil' gardens. I wish she'd hurry up...

Susie said...

I'm so glad to see you back online Beth. I've been wondering how you were doing.

Beth said...

So glad you are back to blogging! Can't wait to see what you do as you modify your space.
We are expanding the gardens this year...maybe we're a bit over ambitious but Ron says more gardening, less mowing...and is it POSSIBLE to have too many flowers?!!?

Connie said...

Welcome back, Beth! Glad to hear the winter wasn't too hard on you this year. Hope you enjoy your scaled back garden. I keep adding to mine, and hubby doesn't mind because it is less for him to mow.

Johnnny said...

Welcome back, Beth. When you start up your blog, that is a very good indication that another growing season is upon us. Plus we have the American Idol Top 7 tonight!

Beth said...

Blase - welcome to my humble blog. Let your wife tend her garden .... she'll be in a better mood!

Susie: I've been wondering how you've been doing too. Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!

Beth: Thanks for visiting. I never thought I would say this but sometimes, yes, you can have too many!!! :o)

Hi Connie! This was one of our best springs ever. If we had crappy weather it would make my decision oh so much easier ... time will tell!

Johnnny: It's good to be on here again ...

I look forward to reading what everyone is doing in their gardens!

Kit said...

Somewhere, your fellow gardeners are saying "Don't do it, Beth!" I saved a bunch of those California poppy seeds from last year if you just want to sprinkle them all over your bad spots...As I'm realizing in my own beds, they're very prolific reseeders & basically no maintenance.

J/K, I totally get feeling like you have too much going on & wanting to consolidate. We should really get together soon and you can look through all the seeds I saved from last year - if you want anything I have gagillions!

Good to see you're back at the bloggage - I need to get mine up and running too. Happy Spring!

Brian Bedell said...

Hey there,
I like the pictures you have on here. Sure seems like you know a thing or two about gardening. I like your site. I am currently working on making my sites look better. I would love to get some feedback from you if you have a moment. Please feel free to browse my websites at An Alternate Truth or Friendly Herb Gardening Help. I look forward to your feedback as to how I can improve.

Thanks,
Brian

patrice said...

Take a look at my garden blog: http://village-farmhouse.blogspot.com/ you may find it interesting too.

Chloe m said...

I can relate to what you said about biting off more than you can chew. I got way too ambitious and started too many projects at once. With four kids and summer stuff going on, I must be NUTS! So, the weeds are taking over until I can get to it.
I am glad you are back to blogging, missed you!

Kerri said...

I should be so sensible ;) Weeds are growing and perennials are taking over. I have so much waiting to be planted. It's the same every year...I always bite off more than I can chew. It's an addiction! But a healthier vice most of the others :)
Happy gardening!