Sunday, January 29, 2023

signs of spring ...

 ... as if all of the flower porn catalogs arriving in the mail weren't enough ...

I've placed orders for trees to plant in the (massive!) backyard for shade, and privacy, but mostly for the birds and other pollinators ... [links>] sweetshrubs, downy serviceberry, eastern redbuds, white dogwoods, sargent crabapplesWashington hawthorns.  I know that I probably won't see any benefit from them for several years if I'm even in this house for that long, but we'll see.

Rather than planting veggies in the backyard, I've decided to focus on flowers for the pollinators.  I've ordered a mix of milkweed, mountain mint, lavender, irises, hollyhocks, and double mock orange.

The rhododendron is beginning to bud in the front yard.  It's a small bush, and I'm hoping that with some weeding and feeding, it will thrive this spring.  There are also what look to be daffodils starting to peek through the soil.

I've ordered a mix of foxglove for the front yard shady areas under the windows, and some liriope for a rocky area by the laundry room.  Clematis will be planted in large pots by the front porch to grow up the decorative posts, and also along a trellis at the edge of the house.

I heard something said today on a show I was watching, "Mayor of Kingston" which stars Jeremy Renner.  It was rather profound, and something I wish I'd heard 50 years ago.

"I can't wait to get old. For my mind to soften and my memories to rot away. The hardest thing to do is forget. Forget the scars life gives you. Forget the scars you gave others. The challenge, though, is hiding a few memories worth keeping from your dying mind. Keep a journal, and only write down the good things. Then when the bad things fade away, you can read about the happy life you had."

Made some progress on getting the bathroom painted today, the ceiling is done, and spray painted the light fixture to cover the rust, put a first coat on most of the walls, and patched some holes.  The ceiling fan I ordered has arrived, soon to be installed. I was having trouble finding art work I liked for one wall, so made my own.  Can't wait for it to be all finished and share pictures.

4 comments:

  1. What a brilliant idea to only hang on to the happy memories.
    Gardening is incredibly addictive isn't it?

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    1. Gardening, and the flower porn catalogs. Very addictive.

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  2. I'm so glad you are allowed to have such fun plans for your garden, you do rent, right? Sometimes landlords won't allow such things. If you own, ignore the last comment!

    It must be a joy to be able to make your own artworks, that leaven was left out of my lump, but i can certainly enjoy the work of others.

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    1. It is a rental, and the landlord was fine with trees and gardens, so long as I didn't plant too close to the house. He's been very obliging to my requests and suggestions, even to putting a small ceiling fan in the bathroom to help keep it somewhat drier in the summer. It will help with keeping the moisture from settling and mold starting.

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