I’m Weird

I’m weird. Anyone who knows me will confirm that. Just ask my son.

I planted all summer. ALL SUMMER. When it was 102, 103, 104, I was out there, moving transplants of Zexmenia (Wedelia texana),

Firebush (Hamelia patens),

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and Twisted-leaf Yucca (Yucca rupicola), to name a few.

I moved established plants like Bamboo Muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa), the little dude under the Goldeneye,

and Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), among others.

I bought plants, usually in gallon pots, some of which did not survive. Others are doing well, like Variegated Flax Lily (Dianella tasmanica ‘Variegata’),

and Soft Leaf Yucca (Yucca recurvifolia).

I was obsessed with my garden this past summer. It was a tough summer, depressing if you think about what the extreme heat and drought might actually indicate. Still, I was not deterred and indeed, I am hopeful. I came home from work (which is part-time, but outdoors), and planted. I mulched and hand-watered when necessary–obviously that was a lot. I wore a funny hat, drank gallons of water and slathered sunscreen. I took lots of showers.

I gardened. All summer.

Now, as we enjoy cooler days and nights, I’ve ceased my planting frenzy.

I think that I am ‘resting on my laurels’. Maybe I’m just tired.

I’m fortunate: I don’t have deer, I have reasonably decent soil and I believe in compost and mulch. I have a patient husband and son. Austin hasn’t instituted Stage 3 water restrictions. Yet.

I’m enjoying my garden, which I know, “…is never so good as it will be next year.” (Thomas Cooper)

10 thoughts on “I’m Weird”

jenny on November 4, 2011 at 6:37 am said:

It seems summer transplanting worked well for you because everything looks lovely. I really like the golden eye and rock rose combination. I only have goldeneye outside my walls but they do say it makes a nice plant to grow in the garden. I will have to scatter some seeds inside for next year. I do love this plant.

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- Tina on November 4, 2011 at 11:41 am said:
  
  Goldeneye is great–it can get rangy though–it’s good at the back of a garden. From Pam’s post about your garden yesterday, it looks like you might have a Goldeneye – I think it’s the one that you thought was skeleton-leaf goldeneye, as they’re related. Check that out. The one in my photo is still blooming profusely, whereas all the others have peaked an are going to seed.
  
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Cat on November 4, 2011 at 10:33 am said:

Good for you! I complained a lot…LOL. Your garden is beautiful.

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- Tina on November 4, 2011 at 11:50 am said:
  
  Thanks– I complained too, you’re not alone! I guess I’m not quite as tired as I thought, I just bought 3 liatris–time to plant again…
  
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Shirley Fox on November 8, 2011 at 9:20 pm said:

This is a great post on not letting the heat and drought get you down.

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- Tina on November 8, 2011 at 9:37 pm said:
  
  Yeah, it was a tough one though. I’m not as young as I used to be…
  
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cyndik on November 9, 2011 at 9:59 pm said:

Your garden looks wonderful….cool that you caught a monarch on a bell.

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Tina on November 10, 2011 at 7:40 am said:

Yes, I had a fair amount of Monarch activity until this week. I guess they’ve headed south for the winter–I miss them.

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cyndik on November 13, 2011 at 7:10 pm said:

I thought of you as I was dragging my feet on getting out in the yard to plant today; why the drag when it’s so nice outside?! But once I made it outside- husband pushing me out the door, I was happy I did – we had a nice time….but still didn’t get everything in the ground….

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- Tina on November 14, 2011 at 1:36 pm said:
  
  And I guess I’m not as tired as I thought I was because I’m still moving things around and pulling out things that didn’t work. There are unhealthier addictions that one could have….
  
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