Lawn Enthusiasts

I'll be the first to admit, I don't care much for lawns. Sure, I'm grateful my husband keeps ours mowed and moderately green but for the most part, I think it's wasted flowerbed space. So it was with quite a bit of humor that I discovered my neighbor winterizing his lawn by hand...during a torrential downpour.

I suppose he's saving himself a step since most fertilizers require a good watering to work. Still, that's some A+ dedication right there. You go guy!

Pictoral Update for August

You must forgive my lack of blogging these last few weeks. Time escapes me. But I still have a few precious moments to enjoy my yard and here are a few samples of it for you.

At the end of the season when the Queen stopped feeding the colony, I had the worst time with wasps. Anything remotely sweet became a target. I even watched a small group chase a hummingbird away.

Luckily for me she came back and let me get this shot of her.

After 3 years, my bougainvillea finally bloomed. It only needed weekly fertilizing. High maintenance this one but so worth it.

And my zinnias. So lovely.

I was given this milk and wine crinum a few months ago. It surprised me this week by blooming. I thought it would be at least a year! That's my rain garden for you. Whatever I plant in it grows like a weed and produces bountiful blossoms. My low-lying portion of the yard turned out to be the best problem I've ever had.

Until next month!

Theory

The good news is, spring is here. The bad news...unfortunately Auburn is not on board. That's ok though. I've been researching and talking with folks and suspect that the surrounding grass (and weeds) have been fighting with the rose bushes for water and nutrients. And so far, the roses haven been losing miserably.

This morning, my husband, a friend of ours and myself dug up everything surrounding the rose bushes, in order to mulch for water retention, and to effectively fertilize. I also cut back sickly looking limbs to make them look healthier and to encourage lateral growth.

Whether my new theory and efforts work, we'll just have to wait and see. But, I'm trying.