Previous Capers

Saturday, July 2, 2011

You Think You Got Weeds!

It's been a long winter, as most of you have probably come to that realization on your own. Here in the PNW, it's been rain with a chance of sun this Spring. June temperatures have barely left the 50's much of the time. Now that June is behind us, July is actually starting out rather nice, a phenomenon that doesn't usually happen until July 5th.

Now that the weather's been getting warmer, it's evident that the weeds have been waiting in ambush; tiny miniature landmines waiting to explode at the first opportunity. One minute you're contemplating what to plant in all those empty spots in your garden (OK, well last Fall), then you wake up to the answer that nature gives: super sized weeds in every nook and cranny. Some are well over 5 feet tall. They're making up for lost time this year.

Somewhere in this explosion are specimens I have actually planted such as, blueberries, weigela, iris, and several perennials, but you'd never know it. In fact, I had forgotten exactly what is there as I haven't been paying too much attention to the beds over the winter. It was Christmas in June, as I uncovered cultivated surprises underneath the spurge.

Common knowledge among horticulturists is that weeds indicate a disturbed soil. I think in this case, weeds indicate a disturbed mind. How many of us have started grandiose projects that languish for years because we have more ideas and ambition than time.
Part of what's supposed to be where the weeds have taken over is a path to the deck. These beds have been a work in progress since I've been in this house for over 10 years. I've been spending most of my time at my BF's place, Mog Cottage in Seattle, that my place has been mainly a mail stop. Having started this project in the front section in the courtyard, I have around 90 feet to go to the deck. Do I want to lay a simple gravel path? No! I want to do something with stone and brick as an artistic expression, silly me. So, with everything else in my life, this project has found itself continuously put on hold. When I do have some time, I find myself getting out of the weeds (if you're not familiar with culinary terms, being 'in the weeds' indicates being overwhelmed in the kitchen).

Spending hours yanking out butter cup, nightshade and spurge, it's a never ending battle. Some weeds are easy to yank out, while others, such as that hideous buttercup, spread by the most minute root remnant left behind. It doesn't help that I don't like to use chemicals. The water table here is very high and the neighborhood borders a wetlands.

I've stuffed my yard waste container and waited an entire week for it to get emptied so I could stuff it again. To add insult to injury, Waste Management missed it this week. Now I've got piles of pulled weeds waiting to get gathered up and disposed of in the yard with no place to go until after next week. I guess I'll double up with additional bins along with the yard waste container pulled out into the middle of the street so they don't miss it! The garbage dude's name must be Murphy.

4 comments:

  1. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to weed the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference between a strawberry plant and Waldsteinia.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So now you know the three types you need to know when best to go about killing weeds. As mentioned earlier, weed killer is by far and away the best and most effective way of killing weeds and their roots.Buy Weed Online

    ReplyDelete
  3. Plan ahead for how you will handle stressful events that might arise. For smokers, the way to deal with a stressful situation is to light a cigarette. Having a plan in place will ensure you don't fall prey to your cravings. Have a backup plan in case the first plan doesn't work.JUUL Pods Dubai

    ReplyDelete

Tell me what you think. I'd love to hear your ideas and personal experiences.