July 01, 2004

How Does My Garden Grow?

I actually did some gardening today. I feel no affinity for gardening whatsoever, but I forced myself to get after it. The former owners of our house really worked hard at providing a nice, seasonal perennial garden for us. Every spring we stand and look at our tulips, crocus and daffodils and say, "Thank you, Mrs. Miller!" (Mrs. Miller was the former owner who worked so hard on the flower beds.) In the summer the lupines and columbines bloom, the hummingbirds come to enjoy the nectar, and we again say, "Thank you, Mrs. Miller!"

Mrs. Miller had her son build her a raised strawberry bed in what is now our back yard. She didn't tend it the last few years of her life, so after we moved in we decided to try to replant it. It didn't work out, mainly because we forget to water stuff. So up until this afternoon, the raised bed was a huge tangle of weeds and chamomile.

I joined The Arbor Day Foundation about a year ago because I love trees. I can keep trees alive, generally speaking. Every few months, the Arbor Day Foundation sends me a little offer where I can make a donation--usually $15 or so--and they will send me some more trees or another goody. This last time it was a summer bulb garden. There were all kinds of little bulbs: anemones, swordflower (?), and allium.

I planted, I watered, and I doubt anything will ever come of it.