Saturday, May 31, 2008

Bletherings of a tired gardener.

Aside

How long is it since I did the lawn? Well I've just done it again but this time I'm not raking the grass up and am trusting MTL's adage that the worms come up and eat it. I've just seen a slow worm in one of the beds which is good news. Lovely day here if a bit airless - especially if one is digging up ground elder.



Round the NW side of the house which is dark and shady with banks and steps - just asking to be converted into a cascade (fat chance) - we get a variety of ferns. I try to clean up the old dead bits so that the burgeoning new growth is perfect. I went out to look at a specially beautifully shaped one just in time to see MTL demolish it with the shears. Thankfully I was in time to save the blue trailing flower that lines the path all round the house.



A tip: to my shame I spilt a tomato sauce down a lemon shirt. Scrubbing with Vanish and washing machine failed to remove the vivid stain but in spite of the dubious weather I left it out on the line till the sun came out and all is as new. Air and sun and frost are all good for stains in case anyone doesn't know this already. The sun is over the yard arm so excuse me - you know what I must do. Bottoms up!

19 comments:

Dandelion said...

Over the yard arm? At 4.45? Bit early for that, isn't it?

savannah said...

i have thrown in the towel about my little garden. i've decided to call in a specialist for a consult - at least whatever he tells me to put in will have a marginal chance at growing. (i can manage to remember the watering!)

Pat said...

Dandelion: no. On our own we eat early and I have my one drink of the day before dinner - any time - between 4pm and 6pm depending on when I have finished 'working'.
I use the term 'yard arm' quite loosely:)

Pat said...

Savannah: beware! since I got my lady gardener I have been doing much more work in it. Voluntarily.

Anonymous said...

The weather here is so weird today. it started out sunny, soon became cloudy and since this evening we've seen flash upon flash of lightning, but hardly any thunder. It's quite s spectacle to watch, (but not a chance of sitting outside on the balcony).

OldHorsetailSnake said...

Just as I finished this piece, Scamp handed me my 4 o'clock vodka. So I am joining you, yardarm-wise.

Pat said...

Hoss: cheers dears!

Marjolein: Do you switch the computer off? Mine was once affected by a storm and I now have a power surge thingy.

kenju said...

Sunshine is great for removing stains. Alas, I live in a neighborhood that bans clothes lines, so I have to improvise.

Pat said...

Judy: ouch! that would drive me nuts. Not even tucked away behind the house?

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I LOVE that The Sun is such a fantastic Cure-All for Stains, and I honestly did not know that!
I love that you are puttering about in your garden Pat....It seems you are more involved these days or is it my imagination...? This is such a delightful time of year for things that are growing in the ground, isn't it? And tell me this: How did it get to be June 1st???
Lift that arm. my dear, and I'll drink to that, too....A bit of Ginger Ale, please...lol!

Pat said...

Naomi: it's true I have regained a little of my enthusiasm and energy for gardening. It's a little of the 'tidying up before the help comes' syndrome.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps it's time to soak the whole blouse in tomato to even out the color?

Cheers.

Pat said...

Randall: that's great lateral thinking.

Unknown said...

Isn't "snifter" a lovely word? Cheers!

Pat said...

Johng: it is that. What time do you have yours?

Kim Ayres said...

Our lawn is more yellow than green, with an abundance of dandilions and buttercups. There are various tall willowy grasses, stuff that looks a bit like clover and, of course, moss. Very little ordinary lawn grass though...

Pat said...

Kim: That was ours BK. (Before Karen)

Anonymous said...

Bit of a late reply, but yes I usually switch the computers off. It's really easy as we have all of the appliances connected to two plug 'boxes' that you can switch off with one switch.

Pat said...

Marjolein: good girl:)