I'm not as young as I once was. I planned for that, this year. Well... I'm planning for the future. Which means I'm exhausted, but setting the foundation for gardens that will, hopefully, need less care next year, and so on going forward. This year? It's the big stuff. Trees, shrubs, berries, a set of perennials carefully selected from the native Texas beauties that will come back year after year. If I do this right, they will come back bigger next year, the year after that I'll divide and spread them, and so on until I've got a showcase garden but don't have to wear myself out on it. Hardy natives thrive on neglect. I've done this before, just this time I'm working in a new biome with unfamiliar soil and plants. Theory remains the same.
And, finally, I've managed to make the time for the Texas Master Naturalist class. I'm enjoying the heck out of it, and as it will run through the end of June, every Thursday evening and many weekends, I'm going to be busy, busy, busy!
Kittens asleep on my desk, and under the sketchbook, my TMN textbook.
The plan is for veggies behind the house, where there's some shade. Shade used to be the enemy but here? The relentless Texas sun and heat make it a friend to vegetable growing. So far I have sugar snap peas up about 6", and just set in roma tomatoes, a few TAM Jalapenos, Summer Squash, and Tomatillos. I'll have to cover these, as we're likely to have at least one more frost, but I have row cover for just this eventuality. I don't want to waste this warm spring weather!
Alongside the driveway the Little Man built me raised beds. I have a long 8' bed for herbs, which is mostly full now. I have a few more things to go in, and mint is going into pots, lest it swamp the whole bed. There is also a 4' bed with strawberries, and a short (one foot tall rather than the others which are two feet) 4' bed designated for flowers but likely to be herb bed overflow and flowers.
Wee little strawbs! I don't think I'll get fruit just yet, but they are trying.
The plan, nebulous at the moment, is to create a privacy screen and foundational planting between the house and the road. In aid of this I have dwarf plums, blueberry, hardy hibiscus, two golden currants, and various perennial flowers in the ground. One of the plums is a Mexican Plum, native to Texas, and already looking like it's going to fruit. There is a small pecan that was planted before we moved in, but likely will have to be removed before it gets much bigger, as it is almost under the power lines for the street. This planting has been topdressed with compost from a local nursery, and will get a thick layer of cardboard and mulch over that, to keep weeds down and allow for simpler mowing lines. I'll add more perennials, herbs, and even vegetables to this as time goes on. Likely not this year! At least not until Fall.
Planting and composting done so far...
Between the hedgerow and the road, this fall we'll sow thickly with bluebonnet and other native wildflower seeds. The plan is to move away from having to mow much at all within about five years. The inner garden up to the house will be slowly filled with flowers, herbs, and berries.
And for now, small flower beds where perennials are being established, and big pots for mint and flowers.
My body is deeply unhappy with me for using muscles that have deteriorated in the last two years of no gardening. I need to be doing so much more than I have! My mind is happy, though. My garden is always good for my soul.
The pots will hold mints: apple mint, chocolate mint, and a lemon mint. I'll have some flowers in there, too. The small blue pot is planted with lemongrass.
Blueberries in bloom! I have two Rabbiteye and one Brightwell, so hopefully I'll get good pollination.
Someday, I'll be the little old lady with that garden. Looking forward to that, even if this getting older thing kinda stinks. If I do the heavy lifting now, while I still can, I won't have to do as much later. At least, that's the plan and hope!