Green Thumb Momma

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Heard that expression? My husband proposed to me after I took a week long trip out of the country. He couldn't stand my being away! I feel that way right now.

It seems to me like it's been a pretty cold Fall and Winter this year. I have to admit that I truly hate the cold and wet weather that seems so prevalent this year in particular. Weren't there a few days last winter that reached the high 60s and low 70s? I could get outside, do a few chores, and let the sun warm my face.

I must suffer from some sort of seasonal depression. It reminds of the old tv show, Northern Exposure, I used to watch in college. Did you ever watch it? The episode where the residents of the small Alaskan town put on head lamps during the winter when the sun never showed itself. Hilarity ensued. So funny. I need to get one of those lamps. I miss the bright sunshine that doesn't hit you behind your sunglasses at the wrong angle. I miss the sunshine that is bright and orange, not dull and gray. Will Winter last forever? Feels like it.

As a result of the colder weather, most of my Fall cleanup chores have been neglected. There are leaves all over my beds, I never dug up my calla lilies (which are sure to have died this year), the stems of annuals I never pulled up still poke out of the ground by my sidewalk, containers have not been cleaned out . . . you get the idea. My garden has been orphaned, poor thing!

But there is some hope. I see little green daffodil leaves poking up through the oak leaves. And I've got a stack of seed catalogues on my desk that's ready for an extended browsing during the little one's naptime. I got a gift card from Christmas to my favorite nursery that's ready the minute that the spring sales begin. The sun is setting later and later everyday.

I'm not the first to feel this way, not the last either. But for an avid gardener, the winter seems endless. My heart misses gardening . . . the dirty hands, the creativity, the long strolls down the nursery aisles looking for a good deal on astilbes . . . ahh. I love her - my garden. (I think of her as a female on the whole. Individual plants do vary in gender though.) I can't wait until she comes home again. Just a little longer . . .

Hubby and I have been working very hard to remove large areas (approx. 1000 sq ft) of english ivy in the front yard. The area is very dry from large tree roots and is located at the top of a slope. These areas are also in full sun, part sun and full shade. Ivy is amazing in that it flourishes under such varied conditions!

The key word is flourishes! It fills up our drainage ditches which traps leaves and other debris. So, when it rains heavily, the ditches overflow rainwater right into our garage. It's a disatrous mess. So the ivy has had to go. I first just tried pulling it out of the ground. I could only do so much at a time (from the back aches and hand cramps). It's so agressive that I just could never get a good jump on it.

Several applications of weed/grass killer failed. But, a total of 3 applications of brush killer mixed with something to help it stick to the leaves finally did the trick. The ivy is very brown and drying up. . . getting the vines up and the roots out is still back breaking work. Hubby has tried a rototiller with limited success.

Some variegated vinca was mixed with the ivy. Another invasive bully will have to go.

What will be replacing the ivy? First, after a soil test . . . we need nitrogen and lots of organic matter. Then goes in a thick layer of mulch. I've got to get the soil improved or there's no chance of improving the dryness issue. What plants will go in? I don't know yet . . . I've got to get the soil right first.

It's one of the major lessons I've learned over the past 3 years in the house. Great soil makes great plants. Soil must come first! Soil may not be exciting, but it's still facinating to me. AND it's crucial to the health and vitality of your garden. First things first.

Go get your hands muddy! It's rained steadily all day today. Finally.