Growing up, you could safely call me an “indoor girl.” I had no interest in planting, gardening, flowers, etc… I happily traded all my outdoor chores with my sister. In other words, I spent many a summer day making beds, setting tables and washing dishes.
My general disdain for all things green continued as an adult. I relished apartment living. I didn’t even want a terrace, for that might require a potted plant. After a recent move, a new neighbor gave me several pots seeded with herbs. Yeah, they died.
When I arrived in Michigan (a year ago this week!) I noticed a huge flowerbed in front of our house. I eyed it warily. Jeremy insisted it was landscaped. He may have even used the words “lush foliage” to describe the garden. It looked like a whole bunch of weeds to me. And that made me nervous.
Last summer I was inundated with new experiences. I met new friends, began driving again and found a new job. The garden, and all its overgrown splendor, slipped my mind. It got to the point where I almost didn’t notice the giant weed that began to sprout tree branches.
Alas, such ignorant blindness was not going to cut it in ’07. I began weeding a month ago. Weeding is backbreaking work. You’re down on your hands and knees, pawing at dirt, while wrenching heavily rooted plants out of the ground. And that dirt is filled with worms, bugs, night crawlers, weird beetle things… ok, I’ll stop. I’m getting the shivers all over again.
The first round of weeding went well, despite the pain in my fingertips, back and legs. Beautiful tulips blossomed in the garden. They were a hold over from the previous owner’s landscaping which managed to survive my weed-happy apocalypse. Being the novice gardener I am, I had no idea tulips only bloom for five minutes. Driving rains came through the region, and thus ended the lives of my tulips.
When the last tulip flower fell, I realized all my hard work was for naught. My garden still looked like total crap. That’s when I knew it was time – time to go to Home Depot.
Living in the suburbs and owning a home means you go to Home Depot. A lot. While I had spent countless hours in Tiling, Cabinetry, Flooring, Lumber, etc… I had never stepped foot in the Nursery. I went into the Nursery with a game plan, namely, I was not doing this gardening thing again next year. I limited my search to perennials and winter-lovin’ shrubs. Four trips later (there’s just so many shrubs you can fit in a Camry) I had all the elements of a no-muss, no fuss garden. Now I just had to plant it.
The planting was fun, as compared to the weeding, which means, in actuality, it was no fun at all. My good friends the worms, bugs, night crawlers and weird beetle things were all back. They watched as I planted my Plantation Lilies, Asiatic Lilies and other assorted perennials. I moved over and planted my shrubs (which as I lack all knowledge of floral naming conventions, I refer to as “fluffy heads.”) After the last shrub was planted, I doused the whole flowerbed in cedar chips, cause there’s no way I’m weeding again this season.
After I finished, I stood back and admired my work. The garden is clean, neat, and requires minimal upkeep - my dream garden. While I appreciate how it looks and I’m proud of myself for stepping way outside of my comfort zone, I was thoroughly miserable the entire time I was planting.
I spent all winter cooped inside my house, waiting for the sun’s warmth to return. Now that its summer, the new season has brought with it new chores. Everyone here claims it’s so great to get outside, but every time I go outside I have to weed something, plant something, paint something or move something. It’s the warm weather that reminds you how exhausting it is to own a home.
While in NY, I owned no land. Sure, I had to walk 15 blocks north to get to Central Park, but when I got there, I didn’t need to weed it. I could just enjoy being outdoors.
I love my new garden. And I’m darn proud that I did it with my bare hands. And deep down, I know I'll appreciate it more than any perfectly landscaped NYC park because its my own. Now I just hope I can find some time to enjoy it.
P.S. In all fairness, the “Before” pic was taken mid-winter.
P.P.S. But, in all fairness, the garden didn’t look much better mid-summer.
P.P.P.S. I really need a manicure.
No comments:
Post a Comment