Tuesday, March 30, 2010

76 and Dry

You think I'm referencing my age and a lack of alcoholic beverages don't you?

If so, shame on you! The former was the temperature at 7:15 this evening, and the latter the state of the weather. 

"So what?" you may ask.

It was a good afternoon to mow down the weeds, that's what!  What grass I have is still tan and crunchy, but the henbit, ground ivy, Spring Beauties, chickweed and the like have been growing like, dare I say, "weeds," giving both my front and back yards a very unkempt look. 

My hand-me-down lawnmower which, unfortunately, spent both summer and winter, rain, sleet, snow and gloom of night sitting outside next to the shed with a cover over the motor, started on the first pull and ran like a champ!  I probably need to take it to the service place to have the blades sharpened but I have no complaints about the way it runs.  I ran out of steam before it ran out of gasoline; there is a small patch under a yard swing which still needs to be mowed, but I had not the energy to move the swing.

While mowing, I found two well developed Sweet Autumn Clematis (SAC)  plants under my Japanese Maple tree. I dug these with a trowel and moved them next to two of the columns on my front porch. I already have a three or four year old SAC on one of the three columns. I hope these two do as well.  SAC, which bloom in late July/early August, have very small, very fragrant white blooms; to me, they smell like the best grade of honey.

 
There is much weed eating around the edges remaining, but that's a task for another day. I did get one lily bed cleaned out, as well; it needs a good watering and an application of mulch to keep the weeds down.


More, later.

19 comments:

Sniffles and Smiles said...

I thought weather...aren't you proud of me? And isn't it wonderful to be planting and gardening again? Love Spring! Enjoy!! ~Janine XO

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Pat, Looks like Spring has happened in Arkansas.... You are doing to your yard what we have to do next week. George just said today that it was almost time to mow... Fun -Fun!!!!!

Glad you are not 76 ---and glad you are not 'dry'.... ha ha..... (That's almost sweating weather!!!)

Hugs,
Betsy

Marvin said...

Up here in the northern suburbs we are still a week or so away from the official Mowing of the Weeds opening ceremony. I hope my luck with cranking up my mower is as good as yours was. We have been spending quality time out in the veggie garden, getting things prepared for the transplanting that will follow when the temp warms up a bit more.

Arkansas Patti said...

Yep, you fooled me.
Your yard sounds just like mine. If it weren't for weeds, I wouldn't have a lawn. My henbit are ready for their second trimming now. Spring is here.

rhymeswithplague said...

I have already done the Ortho Weed-B-Gone spraying thingie, but I need to do a second application. I'm hoping to avoid a citation letter from the Homeowners Association Neighborhood Nazis Committee (not their real name).

If the sprayings don't work, I'm going to have to get out there and just pull the darned weeds up by the roots.

Thanks for reminding me.... :(

Snap said...

Do you rent out? I have two lime trees and 4 Ixora that need to be dug out ... poor things didn't make it through our winter.

Anonymous said...

You sure have nice blossoms in that post. Patty had mowed the front and back already. It should be over 75° today.

Suldog said...

God bless you. One of the pleasures of renting is that I needn't tend to the yard. It is also one of the pities, as I like to do so once in a while...

Hilary said...

I wish I knew what I was doing yard-wise. I haven't a clue. I sure could use a natural like you up here, Pat. :)

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Just stopping by to see how you are! Hope you had a wonderful Easter! Love you! Janine XO

Countrygirl said...

Fun, fun, fun. We are getting snow-supposed to be sunny tomorrow. Glad you are dry and warm. Summer's coming!

Peter said...

As we plunge into Autumn in this part of the world, it is so nice to read of your Spring, where things come to life again. Old bulb friends give themselves a shake and pop up new shoots. Grass gets an itchy feeling and starts to grow. Birds get busy making nests. And the mower is out with a roar! Glad your mower started!

griff said...

Yes, we did the same here also. I can sharpen your blade whenever you need it sharpened (I have a balancer too). Met with our church group this evening now headed to bed

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Hello, dear Pat!!! I just stopped by to see how you are! Missing you...Love you, Janine XO

P.S. Also, I want to thank you so very, very much for posting my button on your blog...it means more to me than you could ever even begin to imagine! Love always, J.

NitWit1 said...

We hust returned Tuesday from 18 days in NC where the pollen count was so high we had pine pollen smog. You could look down US! and it looked like visit fog, only yellow....never seen this phenomenon.

By the wau you just thought you got all my Naked Ladies. You would not believe hown many moe we have EVERywhERE.

Snowbrush said...

Ha. You didn't fool me. I knew what you were talking about. Great minds think alike, etc.

Countrygirl said...

Hey Pat - how are you? Did your computer get sick again? Hope all is well!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Hope you are okay...you are in my thoughts and prayers! Miss you!! Love, Janine XO

NitWit1 said...

Have been missing your blog because I have been traveling plus I am very frustrated by the mess I caused by making some changes to my blog.

Mostly been out of town. Have the Naked Ladies shot up the greenery? That may be all you get for a couple of years.

We certainly did not reduce my inventory any. There are masses of naked lady shoots to supply all of Arkansas, it seems.