The Gleaners
Even at the height of the summer/fall growing season, our center garden beds were a shambles. Really. Oh, there were spurts of color and beauty along the way – first the day lilies and York roses, then the Shasta daisies and, finally, the dahlias. But no one (that would be me) kept after the weeds (mostly grass) or cut back the spent blossoms and leaves. Those beds were an embarrassment and a mess,
Yesterday it was Dave Immel to the rescue! He has begun doing what neither Nyel nor I can do, at least for now – slashing, raking, carting, and generally tidying up. The goal is to get the yard back in some kind of shape so that it can actually be referred to as a “garden” next year. Dave has been working in the south garden with the same industriousness and the same goal in mind: getting some semblance of order by spring!
Garden Bed All A-Tangle
I heard the work being done first – the business-like sound of a weed-whacker – and by the time I reached the window, there was already a wide swath of earth exposed. The chickens were leaving a good distance between themselves and all the noisy activity, but they were certainly keeping watchful eyes on the progress.
Several hours went by and when I looked again, Dave was gone and the beds were empty of debris right down to ground level. The chickens were already busy at their gleaning activities. Watch out, worms! The girls are on their way!
I imagine the next step is to dig out the dahlia bulbs and whatever daisy and rose roots that can be saved. The day lilies will no doubt survive one way or another; they are relentless. Whatever can be rescued, separated from the ubiquitous grass roots, and re-planted will be an extra bonus.
Nyel’s Once-and-Future Vegetable Garden
Meanwhile, maybe we’ll come up with a sensible plan for those beds. My father struggled with them, too. Somehow, they were intended to separate the northern area of grass (known as the Willard R. Espy Constant Care Croquet Court) from the southern area (known at the East Lawn,)
We toy with the idea of bagging the beds and putting it all to lawn but, of course, that presents other problems. Like there is a disparity in height between the areas… and then we are talking fill and leveling and on and on. Every once in a while we have the tempting thought of packing it all in and getting a condo in the city… Thank goodness for Dave!
There are some nice raised beds in a Lake Street yard which we’ve admired.