On Tue, 19 May 2009 12:36:40 -0400, Bill wrote:


Got around to transplanting about 30 baby hellebores. Looked at milky
spore and said wait for a decent rain. Got a wheelbarrow replacement
tire half the size needed. Decided to sharpen a few hand tools as it is
about 65 F. and oak pollen says get out and about. Might organize a
little bit about the small patio but I know might means perhaps future
son in low may offer to help out )

Bill meanwhile house dad tasks remind me of the sirens from Odysseys
way back home travails.

Started puttering but didn't get all that far.... phone calls were coming
in hot and heavy for the business...

I need to

Tie up the peony bushes.... row of about 15 feet... the buds are getting
ready to bloom and they need a lot of support. Going to cut back the buds
to 2 per branch... probably will dump a load of miracle gro bloom booster.
They put on a pretty display... white, white with red and 'Taki' (rose)
Plenty of flowers to give out to the neighborhood. They should be in
bloom in 8 more days.

Sinking posts for a deer fence...five more to go...

Mow Lawn... we had several weeks of rain, so mowed it kinda high
about a week ago... it's time to bring it down to normal height.

Slug getta.... heaped a lot of cut grass around the shrubs to keep
the moisture in.... slugs have been hanging out.

Cut down a few shrubs.... need to trim trees and get a chipper/shredder in.

12 azalea shrubs ready to be planted...

Fix one garden hose

Fertilize everything that doesn't move.... got a lot of roses coming up which
need feeding. Some badly deer damaged shrubs could use some encouragement
also.

The significant other trimmed a Forsynthia bush the other day..... I suggested
taking out the dead branches... perhaps trimming back one third. Next thing
I knew the ground was covered with brush and the shrub was completely bare.
This was a forsynthia that was trimmed to a tree shape over the past many years.

She's a sweetheart, (the s.o. not the forsynthia) but her gardening skills need some
improvement. There are some fun moments.... the other day I was getting ready to
transplant some liriope .... took a plant out of the pot, laid it on the ground and
went to get a shovel. Came back... the plant was no where in sight. Okay
I'm scratching my head.... I knew where I put it.... thought I did... Maybe I'm
going crazy... early onset dementia....losing what little mind I have left. She pops
up... excitedly tells me about this new plant she just planted.. In the 90 seconds I was
gone looking for the shovel, she wandered by, found the plant and decided to plant it
in the other part of the yard. She's here only on weekends... maybe it's better that
way...

Weather has been beautiful after several weeks of daily rain. Everything is growing...
Geraniums, peonies, roses are blooming... even saw a few container day lillies blooming.
Some Azaleas have already dropped their blossoms, but others are just coming into
bloom.

Significant other found a few amaryllis in the commissary the other day, brought them
home and was getting ready to plant them outside... These were 'red lion' zone
8 to 11. Probably not a good idea to plant them outdoors as a perennial in marginal
6/7 so she'll add them to her indoor garden.

Funny thing, the temps were in the low 30's this morning.... very unusual for zone
7/6 Maryland.

This was my Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.... life is good....

Peter....