I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
Captain's Log, Stardate 05.13.2008
I’ve already confessed my black thumb. Now I confess my sloppy gardening.
I had to transfer my miniature rosebush from the planter into the ground because it was no longer miniature. You can see how I cracked the plastic planter in trying to get the darn thing out, you can see the sweep of dirt from when I dug the hole, and you might also be able to tell that the rosebush is a little crooked. In the background is a lavender bush I successfully transplanted last year (then again, it’s almost impossible to kill lavender, so I shouldn’t be so proud of myself).
I had to transfer another lavender plant from a pot into the ground because I needed the pot. If you look on the left side, you’ll see where the dirt from the lavender is at least an inch above the ground. I figure, it’s almost impossible to kill lavender (yay, me!), and the thing will settle a bit into the ground, right? Right?
Here’s the reason I needed the pot—my thyme (on the left) and rosemary (on the right). I’m hoping I didn’t kill them as I transferred them, because I think it will be really cool to have fresh thyme and rosemary this summer. And the rosemary might even survive the winter.
And to assure you I can’t be completely hopeless, my bearded irises are doing well. In the background are two canes of black raspberries I planted last year which managed to survive my mangled pruning and the winter. The next test is if I actually get raspberries.
Confess, all you real gardeners, I make you cringe, don’t I?
I’ve already confessed my black thumb. Now I confess my sloppy gardening.
I had to transfer my miniature rosebush from the planter into the ground because it was no longer miniature. You can see how I cracked the plastic planter in trying to get the darn thing out, you can see the sweep of dirt from when I dug the hole, and you might also be able to tell that the rosebush is a little crooked. In the background is a lavender bush I successfully transplanted last year (then again, it’s almost impossible to kill lavender, so I shouldn’t be so proud of myself).
I had to transfer another lavender plant from a pot into the ground because I needed the pot. If you look on the left side, you’ll see where the dirt from the lavender is at least an inch above the ground. I figure, it’s almost impossible to kill lavender (yay, me!), and the thing will settle a bit into the ground, right? Right?
Here’s the reason I needed the pot—my thyme (on the left) and rosemary (on the right). I’m hoping I didn’t kill them as I transferred them, because I think it will be really cool to have fresh thyme and rosemary this summer. And the rosemary might even survive the winter.
And to assure you I can’t be completely hopeless, my bearded irises are doing well. In the background are two canes of black raspberries I planted last year which managed to survive my mangled pruning and the winter. The next test is if I actually get raspberries.
Confess, all you real gardeners, I make you cringe, don’t I?
Comments
Water them for a good week after transferring.
Oh and carnations do like water to live we found out this year!
I have spend 3 days weeding and getting the garden ready for plants (why is it that a little water brings weeds!) to day I planted the pansys, snapdragons, lobilia (i think its spelt that way you cant kill them either they say. and mums carnations. I still have 520 tulips to plant. Want a trip to South Australia to help me! I really ache tonight.
Um, about the chair arrangement . . . anything to do with a playful doggy?
Yes, Myra, the chairs are to keep my buttheaded dog from running into my irises. Last year, she went barreling into them and broke 2 or 3 stalks of flowers! After I had been congratulating myself that my black thumb hadn't killed them!
Camy
and the thought of planting 520 bulbs is terrifying me!