How Doth Thy Garden Fare?

Surprisingly well, given the relative lack of sun this summer, and the utterly unanticipated never-ending rain events. Add to that the melodrama of never knowing what to plan for and the inaccuracy of official weather reportage, along with much cooler temperatures than normal, and we have an altogether unusual growing season for gardens in this area. Despite which, with the occasion little disaster overlooked, the gardens have fared exceptionally well.

And we are much pleased by that. The roses had their weeks of glory in the early part of summer, and have since bravely weathered the intransigence of the incessant thunderstorms, hidden sun, and peek-a-boo warmth generally accepted to relate to spring and fall, definitely not the dog days of summer. Following the roses trooped all the other reliable perennials to have their days of bloom. In the rain and the wind.

Despite which, all manner of outdoor activities have proceeded right on schedule, heavy rains providing a nuisance backdrop, but insufficient to completely deter us from the matter at hand. And that would be achieving a garden as mannerly and lovely as those of past summers. But far more than that, the man of the house was able to achieve much else.

In the spring, the old deck taken down, and an entirely new one designed and constructed. After which a huge dumpster was rented and into it went years and years of construction detritus, inclusive of the most recent, and including also at least several tons of debris, clay and dirt that had been placed 'temporarily' under the deck, until some future time when it could be disposed of. And it was, right handily. Our home was released of items that had been stored and for which there was no further use. And finally, the entire, loaded dumpster was taken to a recycling depot for proper separation re-assignment and disposal.

And then another project was initiated, the building of another garden shed, a far larger one than we currently have, for our backyard. It is being pursued with great patience and regard for precise competency. While rain pounded down, the lumber has been carefully cut, area by area, inside the garage. When clear skies prevailed for however many hours of an otherwise-rainy day, the opportunity was there to work on site. Ergo, no complaints.

As for garden work, there is always work to be done in a garden, mostly of the weed-pulling, cleaning and tidying-up variety. And that is less like work to a dedicated and happy gardener, than indulging in a pleasurable past time. After which, it is time to sit out on the new deck, under the new canopy, on an old glider, reading the newspapers, and enjoying this unusual summer, with one of our little dogs, bored and content, at my side.