Never done with gardening

[spinbaby]

I belong to a local Facebook gardening group. Every spring we get one or two people posting that they are now “done” with their gardening. This is invariably accompanied by a picture of a pristine patch of mulch surrounding freshly-bought ornamental bushes.

I can only conclude that these are people who have never gardened before.

[piddyprints]

1. Well, I mulch every year.

This year’s mulch is next year’s compost ... which is why my clay is no longer just clay, but nice soil in the gardens. I have over 25 garden areas, which I consider “done” once they’re mulched and trimmed (prune after bloom) for the summer. No, I’m not “done” yet this year, but closer today than yesterday. Of course, I still have to go around to pull weeds and dead head roses regularly, so it is definitely an everyday job!

[Phoenix61]

2. Probably, it's more like done for the moment.

I’m still trying to figure out what goes where. “Full Sun” does not mean full sun in Florida. Several new planting beds. It took me some time to figure out how to reconfigure the irrigation system so they get watered automatically. I’m just not any good at hand watering.

[MontanaMama]

3. Never done!

I’m always futzing with something in the garden...weeding always...and moving plants here and there.

[zeusdogmom]

4. A gardener is never done

Never. About the time you may think you are done a fresh crop of thistles pop up in the peas or the formerly beautiful blooming centaurea need dead heading. And there are a lot of them because they spread like crazy. Fish pond needs attention, too, and the lawn needs mowing. The list goes on forever and ever. I guess if I get to the bottom of the list I can always turn the compost 😄

It’s 10:30 AM and I am done with garden and yard chores until later this evening. Really warm, full sun and no breeze - actually a beautiful day filled with the symphony of cicada song. But I know my limits. Besides I have pleasant things to do inside, too.

Life in its simplicity is good and I am thankful every day for the blessings in my life.

[spinbaby]

5. Your gardening schedule sounds like mine

Mornings and evenings—best times of the day for the garden. I don’t even have a vegetable garden—just a cottage garden with mostly flowers plus some herbs and the occasional vegetable. This morning I planted what I think will be the last of the annuals for the year, putting a nice scoop of homemade compost under each one. Then I watered them in and weeded a bit and, before you know it, two hours were gone and it was getting too hot to work outside. Tonight I plan to edge and mulch two beds and deadhead the spent peonies and irises.

[zeusdogmom]

6. You, too, are a smart gardener 😄

My peonies are a mess. Beautiful blooms for a couple of days then a crushing down pour. All of those beautiful blooms are looking a little worse for the wear. A couple of my bushes have outgrown the standard peony cages so they look extra sad. I need to build some supports to accommodate the huge plants. Obviously something I should have done this past winter.

I have a sneaking feeling your flower beds are beautiful.

[spinbaby]

7. Here's a picture

This is my front fence line.