Mulch Madness is done for the year. No more aching everything, and no more lame puns on the word "mulch". After mulching this area:
and..
and...
and...
and...(gotta do something about that lawn)
and...(the fall project is getting there, might be done by spring)
and...(this slope was a killer. I had to climb up and down an extension ladder all day)
and..(here I finally made those stones level instead of sloping while I was at it. Much better)
and...(I need to put that tower back straight this time)
and...(pots all over, what a mess)
and...
and...the phoebe was back on his block again...
and...(stairs to go up and down)
and...
and...(I finished up 'Abraham Darby'. I always leave Abe for last)
and...it was getting dark. I noticed many little things I would have missed if not for going through every square inch of the garden mulching-tossing. Like finding the tip of a hydrangea branch (lower arrow) had rooted, forming a baby plant with two strong new stems (upper arrow)...
And discovering that the single seed I got last year from Aloe gariepensis has germinated and formed a tiny plant:
I remember well standing on the slope looking at the seed last year, wondering if I should just toss the seed in the compost and not make the effort to keep a tiny pot moist long enough to germinate a seed and then grow a tiny plant. I just didn't have time to nurture a seed. Seemed a shame not to give it a chance, though. So I stuck the seed under a Calocephalus on the slope, where it would be a little moist and a little protected, and when I mulched this year and lifted the edge of the Calocephalus, there was a tiny Aloe plant!
This slope wasn't too hard. I stood at the top and threw mulch down. Digging out the rest of the sprouting Baccharis stems was the hard part:
Today, the last day, I started in the morning when the leaves were dewy.
Not much mulch left, but raking and trimming and sweeping took time, and I was slow because I've been doing this almost all day almost every day since last Wednesday...
Of course I had to stop and get a picture of Aloe marlothii...
and finally, finally as the sun went down at around 5:30 in the afternoon, I was done.
Mulch Madness 2012 is complete. I could use about two more yards--I didn't cover every spot. But not this year. Enough with Mulch Madness. A hot bath awaits.
and..
and...
and...
and...(gotta do something about that lawn)
and...(the fall project is getting there, might be done by spring)
and...(this slope was a killer. I had to climb up and down an extension ladder all day)
and..(here I finally made those stones level instead of sloping while I was at it. Much better)
and...(I need to put that tower back straight this time)
and...(pots all over, what a mess)
and...
and...the phoebe was back on his block again...
and...(stairs to go up and down)
and...
and...(I finished up 'Abraham Darby'. I always leave Abe for last)
and...it was getting dark. I noticed many little things I would have missed if not for going through every square inch of the garden mulching-tossing. Like finding the tip of a hydrangea branch (lower arrow) had rooted, forming a baby plant with two strong new stems (upper arrow)...
And discovering that the single seed I got last year from Aloe gariepensis has germinated and formed a tiny plant:
I remember well standing on the slope looking at the seed last year, wondering if I should just toss the seed in the compost and not make the effort to keep a tiny pot moist long enough to germinate a seed and then grow a tiny plant. I just didn't have time to nurture a seed. Seemed a shame not to give it a chance, though. So I stuck the seed under a Calocephalus on the slope, where it would be a little moist and a little protected, and when I mulched this year and lifted the edge of the Calocephalus, there was a tiny Aloe plant!
This slope wasn't too hard. I stood at the top and threw mulch down. Digging out the rest of the sprouting Baccharis stems was the hard part:
Today, the last day, I started in the morning when the leaves were dewy.
Not much mulch left, but raking and trimming and sweeping took time, and I was slow because I've been doing this almost all day almost every day since last Wednesday...
Of course I had to stop and get a picture of Aloe marlothii...
and finally, finally as the sun went down at around 5:30 in the afternoon, I was done.
Mulch Madness 2012 is complete. I could use about two more yards--I didn't cover every spot. But not this year. Enough with Mulch Madness. A hot bath awaits.
Serious congratulations! I've never mulched all of my beds at one time like that -- not that I'm against it in principle, but it just seems like so much work! You've confirmed that for me!
ReplyDeleteYou have done very well dear Hoover, the garden looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt is always great to find that new plants have sprouted, I have many here courtesy of the birds.
I hope you had a nice relaxing soak in the bath.
xoxoxo ♡
@Alan, yes, it was tough!
ReplyDelete@dianne, thanks! The bath made it all better.
Mulching en masse is one good reason baths will never be completely eliminated from the American home. That's excellent work, Hoov!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so neat and crisp. What a wonderful sight it must be the next morning as you sip your coffee and walk around.
ReplyDelete