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Sunday, April 27, 2014

The Sunday Marathon

I do not like super busy weekends. I prefer slow, sleepy days that begin with plenty of coffee and extra time spent in my pajamas finished with a glass of wine and a good book. But despite my desire for leisure, three impending days of rain and garden chores side tracked by a nasty bout of the flu have left me behind schedule.


Normally, this wouldn't bother me. But I'm feeling abnormal today and just want to get it all done. It's time for the Sunday marathon. Scissors are optional.


Dig, amend, protect


Repeat, repeat, repeat


Dogs dig, I fill


Haul, lift, groan


Fill, fill, stake, smile


Worry


Plant, plant, plant some more...


and some more. 


Transplant 


Prune


Dig, trench, consider, fix, dig


Patch 


Paint, saw, hammer


The mailbox is for my small garden tools, like my trowel, etc. 

Stuff and smile


Enjoy,


enjoy,


and enjoy some more. That's all.

63 comments:

  1. As long as you've balanced all the hard work with time to enjoy, that's a weekend well spent in my book. And, now that everything's tucked into place, you'll feel smug when all those plants get a good soak with rain in the days to come. In contrast, I just managed about 4 hours in the garden this weekend and therefore remain plagued with guilt about what still needs to get done...

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    1. Knowing it was going to rain was a huge incentive to get as much as done as possible. Plus, my seedlings were desperate to get out of their cups. There was much cheering when they were planted. :o)

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  2. My kind of day! Way to go Tam! That long shot of your space is super beautiful! All of the trees in the background with your beds and spring blooms up! Days like these are worth all of the work and pain because your rewards are just stunning! Loving what you are already enjoying and look at that mailbox! How cool is that!?!?! Glad the flu has moved on and you were able to have a solid marathon in the garden today! Can't wait to see more! Nicole xo

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    1. The mailbox is for my garden tools. I needed a handy spot to keep them. I was tired of always looking for them. I bet you could replicate this idea in your garden quite easily. :o)

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  3. I dream of a relaxing weekend...I can't remember the last time I had one! Its just exhausting thinking about it. You have been incredibly busy! I bet it feels great to get that all behind you. Love all your pots!

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    1. Thanks! I am a potaholic. :o) My daughter played soccer for 12 years and I spent every weekend in spring/fall at games. The ones that started at 8 am and were on the other end of our long county were the hardest. Now that she's in college, I love having my weekends to myself.

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  4. That praying mantis sculpture is really cute!

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    1. That's why I bought him! I just couldn't resist. :o) Apparently, I couldn't resist the milk jug, either.

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  5. I just love this blog Tammy. As I looked at all your pics, I saw my own garden looking the same way with the same activities that I have been doing all week too: feeding, pruning, weeding, planting, enjoying. Even the plants are the same. I have to tell you that I got a huge kick out of your giant mailbox! And those beautiful tulips alongside--lovely. I went nuts for Parrot tulips this year and they are just finishing--sad to see them go--but the peonies and iris are coming on; the lilacs are filling my house with fragrance. What a season, huh??? Hey, watch for my review of Grace Peterson's new book coming out on my blog this Tuesday! I share an excerpt with readers, she is a dynamite writer. (www.life-change-compost.com)

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    1. I read her other book so I will be eager for your review. I have no doubt her garden book is incredible. The mailbox is for my garden tools. I was tired of losing them. As for the tulips, I just stuff them in any open pot space in the fall and wait for the show come spring. :o)

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  6. Very nice, Tammy. Hope you didn't work too hard, but your efforts definitely paid off. It all looks whimsical and gorgeous at the same time. Not many people can accomplish those two effects together. :)

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    1. Thanks, Beth! I spent 9 hours in the garden. :o) I have several art pieces that I'm excited about to add to the garden this year. I want the effect to be subtle but fun.

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  7. So impressive considering you weren't feeling well at the same time. Everything looks gorgeous. Love the mailbox and everything else too.

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    1. I'm well recovered but spent my Spring Break in bed very sick. So much for the flu shot! I've done a lot of redesigning over the past couple of years and feel like it's finally all coming together. It's such a good feeling. :o)

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  8. You got an amazing amount done. 9 hours really is a marathon. I hope you also had time for the coffee or at least a wine at the end of the day. It will all be worth it - that's the rewarding thing about a garden.

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    1. Actually, I took a shower and collapsed into bed but it felt good to get so much done. :o)

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  9. Beautiful! All that you have done is great! Looks so nice. Happy gardening

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  10. Oh such hard work but it will all be worth it later on when your garden is bursting at the seams with healthy colourful plants.

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  11. That glass of wine was well deserved! It looks great. I love epimediums.

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    1. Me, too! They are such tough plants. I was happy to find the seedlings. That was a pleasant surprise. :o)

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  12. All of your hard work will pay of as you enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. I have thought about planting spring bulbs in Potsdam as you have done. They are so pretty. Here, another week end went by without any yard work getting done. I am a getting very frustrated with our weather. Again to day it is very cold and windy, it you have inspird me to get out and get busy-- when it warms up.

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    1. Do you call your container garden Potsdam? I call mine Pottersville, but I think it needs a better name. It's been pouring here since yesterday and we have storms forecast for tomorrow. I'm hoping it will be dry enough on Sat to get a bit more work done.

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  13. This whole post sounds exactly like my spring! except I would have to add some moaning and complaining and aching too. The best part is "enjoy", "enjoy" -- how I love it!

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    1. I was snuggling up to a bottle of Advil before bed. After a winter of easy living, my muscles were sore, to say the least. I developed arthritis in my knees in my 30's and have yet to break it to them that I need to retrench my garden/grass borders. It's not going to go over well.

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  14. Sounds like you had a productive weekend! Good for you and here's to many more!

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  15. Hi Tammy, yikes, that you can truly call a Sunday Marathon! But it feels like you had fun doing it as well! I am sure you plants appreciate all the care that you have given them and will reward you for it soon. I just love your forget-me-not. The clear blue is just so cheerful and the dainty flowers just touch my heart! Wishing you a good week!
    Christina

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    1. It was fun but I was racing. I have another brunnera seedling that has pure white flowers. Surprise!

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  16. I would prefer every day to be like your usual weekend but I understand the garden frenzy. After such a long winter I think we are all desperate to get things done.

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    1. I like to get as much done while it's cool/rainy as possible. Plus, my seedlings were desperate to get out of the cups they'd been growing in. Knowing I had missed a chance to get a bunch of garden work done would torture me.

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  17. I thought I had a busy Sunday/got a lot accomplished, but you make me look like a failure! I need a nap after just reading this post.

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    1. Geez Louise! You are amazing! No failures here at all! But move your butt over. I need more naps, too. :o)

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  18. Hard to call it work when you're having so much fun.

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    1. I was aching so much at the end it felt like work! But it was immensely enjoyable, too.

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  19. You are so Funny! I love reading your stuff! I have a Wendy's Wish Salvia that's in a pot on my balcony that I cut back after following someone's directions on the net..... It looks exactly like the plant where you have the words " Worry"

    There is not one sign of life to it at all! I should have followed my first mind and left it alone.... If it doesn't come back I pray that I can find another one because I had one faithful male humming bird that came for it every-day last year in the summer.

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    1. There was growth at the top of the 'Ascot Rainbow' before I cut it back and now - nothing. I'm so irritated. It better not die! I really hope your salvia bounces back, too. I just hate it when plants are uncooperative!

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  20. Color me impressed.

    Hopefully you'll have more ENJOY moments and a bit less work in coming weeks? :)

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    1. I hope so, too! I only have a few more big jobs and then it's all down hill. Yay!

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  21. What a perfect day! Everything is coming along nicely. Don't you just love spring, when it's all ahead of you?

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    1. I love the fresh newness of spring. Everything seems possible. :o)

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  22. What a little Paradise you are creating! I am with you on the mad push on weekends - but, with so much to do and so little (dry) time, what can we do?

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    1. Thanks! Right now I'm just hoping my basement doesn't flood!

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  23. I'm not sure it's the time of year to relax much! The garden is so demanding in spring. I'm sorry to hear you've had the flu - I had it about this time last year and it put me behind with all my garden tasks. I'm glad to hear you got so much done and could enjoy the beauty of your garden at the end of it all.

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    1. Spring and fall are my busiest times but it makes for an easier summer. As long as I keep everything watered and deadheaded, I can sit back and enjoy. :o)

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  24. And we do enjoy, don't we? My favorite thing to do is spend my entire weekend in the garden. I'm sorry you were sick but I'm glad you're up and at it once again.

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    1. Me, too! That's always a weekend well spent. :o)

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  25. When it comes to getting gardening things done, the weather still isn't cooperating. It is miserable cold and raining (which is a slight improvement over cold and snowing). I have managed to rake up most of the golf balls (black walnuts) and one of the trees is down. Two more to go and more ice storm damage to clear away. I am making progress albeit slowly!

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    1. I didn't realize you had an ice storm so bad it took down three trees! Will that give you more sun in your beds? I took down 2 tall, skinny trees with large canopies this winter to help brighten my shade garden. I hope the trees didn't cause any damage as they came down and I'm glad you're ok!

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  26. Never mind a glass Tammy I t!think you deserve a whole bottle after that! Beautiful epimedium.

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  27. How lucky you are to be able to have such a busy Sunday - and cooperative weather. Take care and keep enjoying all those beautiful chores.

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    1. I have more lined up for this weekend, but it's so fun to get them all done. I love the sense of accomplishment and the feeling that I'm working on something important to me.

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  28. So sorry to hear that you had a nasty bout of the flu....so did my girlfriend in Virginia.....hope you're feeling better and back to your merry self.
    Loved that mailbox tool box idea for storing small garden tools in the garden.
    The entire month of April has gone by and one single April shower....the garden is suffering terribly...send me some of your unwanted rain.

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    1. Drought or deluge is how we roll here so I know there will be drought later on in the season. It's always so weird when islands don't get rain! Sending you wishes and prayers for a rainy May. :o)

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  29. Wow, you did have a marathon. Careful of your back. Personally I much prefer the slow and steady work weekends, marathons make me nervous. I also meant to ask you, should I be worrying that my Spigelia marilandica isn't up yet?

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    1. Don't worry about the spigellia. Mine just popped their heads up and are super tiny. But my crocosmia aren't up and I'm worried about my Japanese anemones. :(

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    2. That's funny, I'm worried about my Japanese anemones.

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  30. Don't over do it too much especially coming off the flu...i completely know how you feel...bad weather has sidetracked us here and now my upcoming surgery will put me behind and missing most of spring...glad you were productive and feeling good.

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    1. I once had knee surgery over my Christmas break because I told the dr I needed to heal during my off season. He asked me if I was an athlete (ha!) and I told him I was an Extreme Gardener. :o) After laying in bed for a week, it was wonderful to actually use my body for something other than rolling over and going back to sleep.

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  31. Oh you and me both re the sleepy p j mornings and wine and book evenings! I do hope you are feeling better now....how you can do all that under the weather I don't know...but wow girl....way to go!!!!
    I love your toolbox mailbox and this is a fab post....xxx

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  32. By the time I was ready for the marathon, I was well recovered. :o) But I was sore as heck the next day.

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  33. Wow - that sounds like a manic day, I like having those when the weather is good because when you're all seized up and on the verge of being hospitalised at the end of the day, you can reflect on how much you've achieved and reward yourself with a additional glass of wine or slice of cake. PS: I love the mail box and grasshopper.

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