Thursday, June 11, 2009

Savoring The Lull

Good lord, did I need a break.

You know that thing that happens when you have been going a million miles an hour for a while, and then you rest and then you get sick because your body will finally let you?

Yeah, that. This time, I fully welcomed it. And it got me re-thinking the garden. About going lo-fi in the garden to keep things simpler and simpler.

Down in our raised beds, the bed that is the happiest and makes me happiest has perennial flowers and herbs in it. The bed that frustrates me the most is the high maintenance vegetable bed. Because it is far away from the house - it gets away from me constantly.

So, I'm hoping for one smallish vegetable bed much closer to the house (or just incorporating more veggies into our front yard landscape) and putting more lavender, perennials and berries down in the raised beds. So I can weed easily, mulch heavily and let it all be.

This lull has me stepping away from the computer and the camera (just for a spell!) and reading this, listening to this, watching a bit of this, eating piles of homemade potato salad (with bacon and homegrown dill) and swimming here (Mint Springs!) with Willa.

9 comments:

June said...

Oh, I'm so jealous you have swimming weather. We have nothing but WET and cold. That's Maine, but sigh...

Love hearing about a more southern experience of gardening...

Tracey said...

Hi June!

I will be drooling over your July and August - you just wait!!!

Natasha said...

Perfect swimming spot for a warm summer day. Wishing we had something like that here. Have fun and be safe!

swampkris said...

Doesn't just the name "Mint Springs" sound cooling?

Colleen Wms said...

I too am trying to keep things a little more simple this year with the gardens so cheers to that one. To keep up with it all, it can become a chore, and that's not what it's all about. My daylilly garden is surrounded by weeds and I just can't get to it and may not this year. I don't invite anyone here for garden tours, it's all 4me, and I too may want to spend more time swimming, reading, etc.

lotta said...

We all need a break thats for sure. I hope you feel better soon. I am managing my garden stress much better since I met with you – I just pretend not to see the rambles at the far end while focusing on a small more manageable section. It is really working. Thank you for visiting the garden blog - yet another tool to keep me going.

Anonymous said...

Tracey, I can relate. Have you ever stood there at the end of the day, dirty, sweaty and exhausted, back hurting, stressing over a million things that you still need to get done besides the garden, one of which will not be getting enough sleep now, and said to yourself: But....this is supposed to be my FUN and RELAXATION. This is VOLUNTARY! Ha! Yes, go swimming!!!!!!!!!!!
Betsy

Tracey said...

Sounds like we could all use a little break in the garden and more summer-time activities. I really do need to credit Willa May for opening my eyes to what matters!

Thanks for ALL of your sweet comments!

Libby said...

Kudos to you for taking an easier approach to your garden! (I'm all for low maintenance) and glad you're feeling better... Off topic, but Ewan MacGregor on a motorcycle? Whew! ;)