Summer Updates

Oh today is a beautiful day. My plan was to work today (Tuesdays are a regular day off for me) because I will be taking Friday off to go on a family camp. But then I thought of everything I need to do before this weekend, and decided to just take it off as usual. And I'm glad I did.

I'll be working in the garage, organizing and preparing all the camping gear, and getting things spiffied up somewhat for the new renters who will be coming July 1. I had a marvelous workout this morning with Kim - we did an hour of plyometrics. Good workout.

The weeds in my yard are growing really well! I've pulled close to two full size city garbage cans worth and there's more where that came from. But I've also done some work on the front flower garden. It's looking pretty nice. My garden is planted, with a few things starting to come in nicely; some things not coming in at all.

My compost pile got soaking wet a few weeks ago because I left the lid off and we had a wonderful rain storm. Now what was proving to be a rich dirt producing pile, turned into a disgusting sludge bin of incredibly foul smelling goop. I emptied it into a corner of the yard and mixed it into the soil. I hope it eventually dries out and stops smelling like rotting manure.

I'll start over with that once I clean out the bin.

Breaking my Back

My front curb is officially dead. And my lawn is actually returning to its lovely green state. I'm hopeful some good might soon come of my weed spraying.


This evening, I got out there with a borrowed tiller. After 1 1/2 hours of work, I've now completed an area approximately 3' x 3' square. Humm.
This is going to take longer than I thought. By the time I finish tilling all the weeds up, new ones will have moved in. Maybe I should start planting the new grass as I finish a section of tilling. That could be kinda fun. Till, plant, till, plant.

Weeds

As much as I love nature, there are some things I am happy to kill. I don't like to kill spiders, unless they are in my house, but even then, I feel bad. I don't like to kill moths. They are just confused little critters trying to navigate by the light of the moon, but get dragged in by our lights. I don't like to pick flowers or walk off the trail and damage plants.

But there is one thing I am more than happy to kill. Weeds. But not every weed. Weeds that are native to Utah, that have always been here, may just be a "flower" that's in a place people don't want. For the most part, weeds are amazing survivors. And I applaud them and where they can grow. Even dandelions have their place.

But other weeds, especially non-native, invasive weeds! They must go! And my front lawn is full of them, unfortunately. Especially my front curb area. I have decided the only thing I can do is to Roundup the whole area, remove it all once it's dead, and re-plant new grass.

I'd actually like to do that to my entire lawn - front and back. But that could get a little out of hand. So we'll just start with that front curb and see how it goes.

I'm going to Roundup tomorrow. Wish me luck!