To Thee I Say Weed It and Reap

(08/99)
With the arrival of our newest pup, the yard has surely taken a beating. And after such a dry hot summer, things are looking pretty grim. The tomatoes, however, just love this weather. We've had a bumper crop this summer. But with the water restrictions and the heat the rest of the yard is pretty sad looking. At this point, I'm praying for an early fall.

(04/99)
Beginning in early November last year, the grass in the backyard slowly began to disappear. Then the camallias, euonymous, and finally, the rhododendrun were chewed to pieces. What could be the cause? Some new form of fungus? An as yet unheard of pest? NO....it's a puppy!

The crocous have made a wonderful early show of color, and the daffodil and tulip aren't far behind. We've had such a mild winter that everything seems, even now in early March, just ready to burst with color. There's already new, healthy growth on the roses, the hollyhock didn't die back at all, and the formosa and pride-of-mobile azalea are just about to pop. And you should see the yoshinoe cherry! In another couple of weeks it'll be time to start the seeds for an herb garden I have planned.

(08/98)
Gardening is a year round, never ending project which fills me with awe for mother nature, and never fails to humble me. When we first moved into our home the backyard was one hardpacked, clay moon-scape which sloped into one corner. All the rain just washed into that one corner, resulting in a weed covered bog. My husband spent that entire first summer landscaping the entire area. I now have 3 large, wonderfully terraced beds and that bottom corner which was a bog is now a beautiful cutting garden.

We're now in year 9 of the 5-year plan. I'm constantly planning, adding new plants and shrubs, and am currently working on an area dedicated to native species (trillium, wild azalea, rhododendron, galax, joe-pye, indian paintbrush, solomon seal, etc.). My husband teases that if I haven't moved a shrub 3 times, it's not in the right place. The amount of sunlight, exposure, color, and providing habitat for permanent and migratory birds and butterflies all must be taken into consideration when planning a garden. So far, it's paying off. It's been wonderful to see a population explosion of butterflies, robins, and brown thrashers. The hanging bird feeders have also attracted several nesting pairs of finch and towhee.

I am very excited this year, as we have our first humming birds. Just after July fourth I was sitting on the patio and out of the corner of my eye I saw a huge buzzing insect. I quickly realized it was no bug, but a female Rubythroat. I hung a feeder that day, just outside the window here by my computer. Now, 1 month later, I have at least one adult male Rubythroat, two adult females, and several juveniles. The adult male is very territorial, however, and is very particular about who he lets feed. These tiny creatures, no larger than my pinkie, just astound me. Thankfully, they don't seem to mind the dog occasionally looking out the window or the cat laying in the windowsill, watching. She doesn't seem to realize that they're birds, and shows no interest in them whatsoever. Now that these hummers know the feeder is here, my hope is that in the future, as they migrate they'll return year after year.

Gardening in Georgia poses it's own unique obstacles as there is such a large amount of clay in most areas. Soil preparation and augmentation is, therefore, a must. Adding sand, organic matter such as compost, and a lot of elbow grease is well worth the effort for healthy plant development. I prefer to use "natural" means of pest control. Ladybugs, praying mantis, beneficial nematodes, and naturally, birds are the preferred methods.

The dogs do pose gardening dangers as some plants are poisonous to animals, so care must be taken that any dangerous plant is in an area they can't get to. They also like to help dig holes, usually where I don't need them. They don't always agree with me on the placement, therefore, my vegetable garden is in containers. They and the cats are a help in some respects...the mole and chipmunk populations have certainly declined .

For more info on gardening, take at look at these links and resources.

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Copyright© Wendy Eldredge
1999
The Hole In The Head Gang