A Sunday Garden - Memorial Day Edition

So, guess what?  They are predicting rain for today.  Just what I do not need.  I cannot dig without water coming to the surface.  Ah, Mother Nature.

So, here I am, waterlogged.  I truly had believed that I had no garden projects this year.  That was before I went out this spring and saw that a large area of grass had turned to weed grasses since last year.  Quack grass, bent grass, nutsedge... all had invaded the area and overtaken my Kentucky Blue.

My first thought was to just kill it all and resod.  Then I looked at the mess in the yards on either side of me and figured it was a losing battle.  One neighbor has never used any fertilizer or weed killer since he moved in about 15 years ago.  The other house has a single woman living in it who does not do yard work and does not hire anyone to do it.  Her ex, or whatever he is, shows up every few weeks to cut the front lawn, but not the back.  I could put in new sod and just replay the invasion all over again.

So, after several weeks I decided this week to just cover up the grass and put in a new bed.

This is the area that had been covered since spring waiting for the grass to die.  It is also the area where I have a swale for all the water to run off the property.  Also, it is the same are that was invaded by a mole a few years ago.  While the trapper I use says moles do not eat roots, I still think the tunneling damaged the roots of the grass enough to allow the weedy grasses to take over.  As to where those weeds come from, the local garden center said that they are moved around the neighborhoods by the large lawn cutting machines that do not get cleaned between mowings.  And the fact that seeds blow all over town.  I cut my own lawn, but these crews move their machines up and down the streets going from one home to another.

So, I set out yesterday to re-landscape the area.  Ugh.  It was nearly 80 degrees F when I came inside.  I was beat, but although not done, I have this new planting area.

It was too wet to dig the edge and I just gave up.  I'll do it when and if the area dries up.  I am also thinking that I may remove more grass on the right side of the photo.  Actually, the grass looks better in the photo that it actually does in person.

So, this week in the garden.  Green.  Lots of green.  This is the view from the bridge:

And here are a few flowers, a tree peony, Cup Race iris, and those wild columbine that are having a magnificent year.

And two views for you, back by the dry creek and looking out the front door:

Have a great holiday weekend.