Week 23: A gardening project

For as long as I can remember, I've always claimed that I had no green thumb. I hated gardening and never gave it much of a thought. I always loved the look of gardens but couldn't fathom the time that went in to it. But lately something changed. I've been spending a lot of time out on our front porch during this hot weather. When I look out at our little front yard I see trees that need shaping and weeds that need to be pulled. I see a blank canvas with so many possibilities. It all started in the beginning of the this week by simply pulling weeds out of cracks between the paving stones. Next, I decided that a little splash of yellow might be nice to catch me my eye. So off I went to the little plant tent in our town to purchase two Coreopsis plants.

A few days later I walked by a neighbor's garden and complimented her black-eyed susans. The next thing I know she's got a shovel and I'm walking home with a huge clump of them to plant in my own yard.

By Friday I decided to pull out all the stops. I called my parents, home gardeners extraordinaire. Yesterday morning they arrived around 11am with flowers, rakes, a string trimmer, an electric hedge cutter and a leather carrying case filled with pruning sheers and garden tools. My son mowed the lawn and helped trim back trees and bushes with my father while my mother and I tackled the weeds in the flower beds. I rearranged my potted herbs and tomato plant.




We worked hard together out in the sun for nearly five hours. It was fabulous. We hauled away 5 full bags of lawn debris, which Breen helped to fill up for us. The front yard looks so loved and happy.

I am so proud of the work yesterday and I am so glad that a new found interest in gardening has found me.




Working outside with my hands making something beautiful really gave me a sense of pride and purpose. Although we're renting this house, I think it gives me great practice for when we have our own home. I imagine working outside on our yard for hours with such satisfaction. I also believe that whether you rent or own, live in the city or the country, or have a tiny yard or sprawling acreage, there is always an opportunity to make your space beautiful. And the best part? It doesn't cost a whole lot of money; just a few plants and an investment of your hands and time.

What did you do this week?