So where do I begin?

That’s the question that not only describes what I want to share here, but also how I feel about my yard. I feel so overwhelmed, and have a huge “to-do” list. I think I’m detail and organizationally gifted. After all, that’s part of my day job. I do it well, and I keep track of all kinds of things from planning calendars to making sure a follow up call gets made. I don’t know this new job of mine (as a homeowner and now gardener) was going to be so detailed as well. Perhaps it won’t feel that way in the growing season of summer. I’m hoping that maintenance will be easier than springtime, because I will have learned a few things about these plants and yard that I didn’t know before.

Saturday was a very full day for me. I had a baby shower for a friend, birthday party for my nephew, and we bought a lawnmower later that same afternoon. My husband chose one that was comfortable for him, and I think he was kind of excited about it. We had a nice dinner out with my mom, and then took a quick look over the lawn, gardens, and just settled in at dusk.

Sunday after church, we made the usual run to Walmart and Sam’s Club to get personal stuff and groceries. We went home for lunch, and then started in with chores. My husband made a trip back to the store to pick up a patio furniture set we liked, and he made two trips back and forth to the store to bring it all home in our small SUV. The kids played outside while I raked the yard – and I actually got ½ the backyard cleaned up. I transplanted 2 hostas and a Siberian Iris that Bob gave us last week. I watered them good, but the soil is very thick – clay mostly. I hope they survive. I may have to dig them up again and put in more fertile soil, but we’ll see how it goes for a couple of weeks.

Friends brought over a pot of flowers (geraniums, and something else?) that needs full sun, so I set it on the front step by the door facing west. I think it’s a pretty combination of purple, red, and green. They also brought over a tray of veggie plants – 2-3 types of tomatoes, peppers, onions, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, and watermelon. I purchased them from the boy-scout troop. I said they could keep the onions, because we already have so many growing in the weedy garden. In fact, I had my first harvest yesterday. Green onions were very large and beginning to bulb on top, but I dug up 3 sets anyhow. There’s a lot scattered throughout the whole area. I’m going to see if I can gather them together in one square box of the garden.

I stayed up a little later after dinner to put together the patio furniture, and I’m half-way done. My arms, neck, legs, and hands are sore and calloused…and ibuprofen is becoming my best friend at night. My eyes and nose are running a bit, and I need to remember to take some allergy meds to be able to enjoy the outdoor dust and pollen. I know this is just the beginning. I’m learning to pace myself. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow, but I didn’t pay attention to how much is expected. I’ll take each day as it comes, and start writing down that to-do list today.