The Out of Shape Gardener: Well, Hello There

I am starting a new series: The Out of Shape Gardener. I’m sure you can imagine how I got the name, but just in case you need clarification, I am out of shape and a self proclaimed gardener – though others might not consider the areas where green stuff grows to be gardens. They are, like me, a little out of shape. 😉

Now, don’t get me wrong – I am in much better shape than in the past. I once weighed 216 and I now weigh 180, but I still have a ways to go before I would be mistaken for a model in a fitness magazine. As for my gardens – I bet you would see some beauty in the mayhem, but I am going to make it more visible.

Today’s garden area is what I call the Bedroom Garden because there is a bedroom behind the wall. I am quite creative in my names, aren’t I?

I would like to rename this area as the Future Deck Area. Yes, I would like to have a deck built around our above-ground pool because my out of shape legs don’t climb the ladder very well and I wouldn’t mind being able to sit on the side of the pool with just my legs in the water. I know the deck isn’t in the cards for this summer, but it doesn’t hurt to get it ready.

This is what the garden looked like to start.

left side

center

looking right

 

Can you see the pretty pink flowers? I bought them a couple of years ago in a mass in a pot. They seem to resemble weeds early in the spring and I think I have weeded out most of them. I hope they survive where I transplanted the few stems I salvaged.

It wasn’t long before I felt a presence in my garden and I looked down to see some friends hidden from sight just a few moments before.

Gnome hiding in the weeds

Hello Gnome,

My dear friend

I’m glad to find you

Once again

Bunny hidden in a holly bush

Little Bunny Foofoo

I can hardly see you

hiding in the prickly

prickly holly leaves

There were others hiding here and there and I could have been afraid that something would jump out and attack, but I knew the fairies are protecting me even if I can’t see them.

Something grey

Could it be Mr. Turtle?

Oh, there’s another gnome

It wasn’t long before I could see some progress.

 

 

I transplanted all the lilies which have very small bulbs that form a clump.  The full bulbs (I don’t know what the flowers had been, probably daffodils) were separated and the stems were removed. They are now drying safely inside until I decide where they will grow. I’m pretty sure they can wait until October.

The holly bush or tree

Funny thing about this holly is it was originally a bush and then I went away for a few years and it became a tree. I once asked the human to “top it” which I thought meant to cut off the top of it but was interpreted as cut everything but the top. I didn’t like the result. Who wants a tree right up against their house? Not me.

A few years ago it was cut down and completely stripped of all growth. It refused to die.

I went to cut the limbs again and realized the bunny was on top of a pile of rocks. I had covered the stump with rocks in the hopes that it would discourage growth.

This is only half of the rocks and they were covered in ants and eggs.

The center of the stump is completely rotted out. Good soil to be found here.

It’s truly baffling how the thing still has leaves.

If you have never encountered a holly before you would not appreciate how annoying those leaves are. It’s virtually impossible to get near them without getting scratched.

 

Oh, another friend. He always smiles when he sees me. I believe he came from South of The Border (a silly tourist attraction) on one of our trips to the sunny state.

 

Everyone is visible.

Well, that’s as much as I got done today. According to my Fitbit I worked out for 90 minutes and that’s enough for this out of shape gardener. The garden may not be anything spectacular, but it sure is nice to have my friends again.

About Marie T

I love gardening and magical beings. My profile is a garden ready to be created,

‹ May the Maestro Cue the Zen

The Blackberry Garden ›

Tagged with: Fitbit, gardening, getting in shape, humor, motivation
Posted in The Out of Shape Gardener