Life Is Crazy

I can't believe it has been 11 days since my last post. Life has been crazy. Insane. Almost as weird as the weather. Here are a few of the photos I took in my yard yesterday. Let's not forget that it IS December! The saddest part was cutting these flowers and throwing them away. I haven't had the heart to cut a few of them. My Siberian Iris has bloomed for the first time in the 2 years since I planted it. Does anyone know if I have to cut it down? Also, as you can see in the last photo, my Spring bulbs are sprouting. All over my front flower bed. What do I do?

Oh ya, and whoever thought I would have fresh garden strawberries in December? and look at that green green grass. You would have guess this photo was taken in June, not December.

Our Saturday Accomplishments

Last Saturday Alan and I hit the nursery again. As soon as we got in the car one of the kids said, "Oh no, are we going to J & J again?". They know the Saturday routine. Last week we brought along a trailer and filled it full of trees and a few more plants. I had decided that I wanted phlox, crazy daisies and daylilies in our new flower beds. We also ended up purchasing a redbud tree, a honeylocust and an ash. I also now have 400 bulbs that I need to plant, but I want a few bushes pulled up before I get to them. Will the list never end?

This Saturday I finally got around to planting the plants we bought last week and as a surprise to the kids, we didn't hit J & J. Instead I hit Lowes ... twice. They had some good deals, although their daylilies seemed a bit root bound, as can happen when purchasing plants for a good deal in the fall. They looked great however, and I hope they survive.

I'll post some "real" pictures tomorrow on the progress that we are making. It definitely spruced up the area, but we still have a long way to go. I do hate the soil in our yard and we have a few "dead zones" where everything we plant seems to die on us. As I was working in our new flower bed I kept smelling something putrid. I kept thinking since I was right next to the fence, it was my neighbor's dog poop, but no, it is our dirt. It smells like the Great Salt Lake on it's bad day. I would love to take a back hoe, dig 2-3 feet deep and replace all of the soil with the soft top soil I long for. If only we had a trail of money as long as my wish list. :)

A Born Picker (Read with caution)

I'll admit, I'm a picker. I love to pick at things. Some of my past favorites are: split ends, pimples, and children's ears (don't tell my ENT). I especially love to peel sunburns! Trying to pull of the biggest piece of skin is a thrill to me. I'll even admit to the occasional nose picking. (I know you're thinking GROSS!, but at least I'm being honest. Come on, you know you've done it too). Anyway, I have finally found a productive outlet for my picking fascination. It's my flowers. I'm a flower fanatic. But, guess what most of them love? They usually love to be picked! Technically speaking, this is called deadheading and I just don't have enough time in the day to deadhead all of the flowers in my multitude of boxes, baskets, containers and flowerbeds. I have even been known to deadhead flowers at strangers, family or neighbors houses. I have learned that deadheading promotes more flowers, and thus it is a wonderful outlet for both me and my flowers. (My kids and their ears can breathe a sigh of relief. )

I think my neighbors must think I'm crazy because I'm out on my front porch for long periods of time just picking at my flowers. Sure, they would probably be fine without the picking, but I can't stand to look at a basket full of half shriveled up flowers. So, for now I'll remain the crazy lady in the neighborhood who is obsessive compulsive about keeping her flowers looking neat.

Here are a few of the flowers on my porch you will find me picking at, although a few are struggling in this heat. I think they still look pretty good, although I'm waiting for a little bit cooler weather so they will once again "sing" to me. I had to cut my cape daisies way back because they really don't like this heat.

This picture is a little bit dark, but you get the idea.