September Already?

August is over and I miss it already.  Seems like yesterday.  Well, ok, it was two days ago, but you know what I mean. Hard to believe September is here and it's Fertilizer Friday again.

Hey, we finished the Spruced Up Bed last night.  We ended up limbing up the spruces a lot more than we first planned to, but I think it's for the best. 

This picture was taken on Thursday morning and you can see the branches are still on the blue spruce on the left side of the Something Else bed.  But not for long.  Once Carl got home from work, we debated and kicked the ideas around (and a few rocks) and thought, oh, what the heck, let's lop 'em off.  I couldn't mow under the trees and there was always a fringe of long grass there which meant poor old me had to go get the gas trimmer and I don't need more work. (Yes, I know, it's walking work which all adds to the Pedometer Miles, but still!) 

The trees looked OK on the outside looking in, but on the inside looking out, it was another story:

Ah, nothing like the lovely view of dead branches and brown needles to lift the spirits.  Come to think of it, there's a lot of things in life just the same, isn't it?  Someone's life looks great on the outside, but the inside is a whole 'nother story. ( Ok, enough philosophy, sorry for the detour.)

Out came the chainsaw and loppers and ladders and my Felco and I were up in the treetops trimming off the dead branchlets (is that a word?) that were hanging down looking messy.  I could spend another two weeks out there going from tree to tree just trimming, but for now, I'm calling it quits.  Enough!

Kinda hard to tell, but see how thin those branches backlit by the sky look?  Well, that's all that's left after I trimmed off all the twiglets (inventing another word) that were dead.  It's not the greatest look, but it's better than it was.  

We were really worried that the Formal Garden would be perfectly visible from the road, but it's not.  Below is what it looked like before we took off the bottom limbs.

And there it is, above; all limbed up.  Which allows me to mow under the trees.

I didn't say it was EASY to mow under them, but if I limbo just right, I can make it without losing my head.

As I mowed off into the sunset, Joel was busily burning yet ANOTHER load of limbs.  Every summer is like this around here, but we used to make a pile of brush out in the Back Eight and then have a tremendous bonfire once or twice a year.  I got tired of calling the Fire Department to let them know we were burning stuff so they didn't have to come out, so the New Rule around here is Burn the Brush the Day You Cut It Down, and that works a whole lot better.  We sure have been having a lot of campfires this summer, lol. 

It's going to take some time for this garden area to feel 'right' if you know what I mean......I think we'll probably end up hauling a few more rocks in there eventually and maybe a split-rail fence (if some more rails turn up at the landfill, ha)  and I really like a suggestion I'd gotten from Granny Lyn to put some benches in there or something.

There's a kind of nice view back to the Formal Garden of the dome from the trees.  Another idea was to maybe put up a hammock since the trees are only 12' apart.  That might be fun, ya think?  Just lie in the hammock looking up at the dead twigs overhead........ok, well, maybe not.  Ha.

Usually Patient Carl is starting to lose his patience with this project.  I have to keep my Head Landscaper happy and it's time to call it quits with this project.  I try to keep his spirits up by pointing out we're done hauling rocks out of the Formal Bed, anyway.  Carl countered with, "Yeah, ok, we're done with that part, but I still have a stone wall to finish down there AND the stone ruin/house/whatchacallit building."  

Did I ever mention that sometimes we don't resemble a Happy Couple?  Yes, surprise, surprise, sometimes we resemble a Crabby Couple, especially when the mosquitoes won't quit biting and the humidity is high and we're both tired and cranky.  But we get over it, we have to, there's too much work to do around here!  Our biggest problem is we both love what we're doing but we don't want to make more work, either.  I STILL say this bed won't be a big deal to take care of, but my better half is not of the same opinion.  Let's hope I'm right.  Hey, I gave up on my idea of a low stone wall just coming off the Something Else bed and rising up to an arch with a little door in it making this a Secret Garden.  I did give up on that idea (for now..).  So Carl should be happy! 

I know it looks kind of severe right now, but we'll think of something eventually.  Maybe hostas will grow in here, if even in a few places, and that would help soften the landscaping.  For right now, we're going with the County Park Look.   

So, this is Fertilizer Friday and let's see if there's anything blooming in the rest of the yard, ok?

There's a chicken or two poking around in the River Bed.

'Limelight' hydrangea is really looking good over by the barn.

On Thursday morning, I took more pictures of Ernie....oh, he was looking good then!

But now......well, not so good:

We had a thunderstorm of Epic Proportions come to visit this morning and well, Ernie didn't like the bath of 1 1/2" of rain and 65 mph+ winds too very much.  I'll keep you posted on how the Supertunia Bubblegum petunias bounce back (or not) from the hammering.  We're supposed to get a few more storms yet today, too.

Willie the Willow hung on through this storm again.  If there's ever a tree we worry about, it's Willie.  He flings a few limbs around the lawn now and again, but still keeps on standing--- so far.  You can just see Ernie peeking around Willie's trunk on the right side there.  I bet Ernie gets nervous when Willie's branches are flapping all over the place since he's really close.  I know I would!

I bet Ernie wishes he was nice and close to the house like the impatiens are.

Of course I still have rudbeckias all over the garden.  I took these pictures Thursday night, haven't been out back to see how they look now.

 

No flowers in the Woodland Bed, except for the hostas I forgot to deadhead.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day weekend! 

 We'll be laboring on with the Next Project:

At least, that's the Plan.

Now, head on over to Tootsie's and see what's blooming.  Happy Labor Day, everyone!