Making excuses for not making my garden
05/23/2009 9:39 AM
In my South Loop
neighborhood, the 15th is the last day of May you can get by without making an
excuse for not planting your garden yet.
That’s the day that the gardening experts say you are finally completely
and totally safe to garden in our latitude zone.
So I have been making excuses for the last week or so. “Too cold. Too humid. Might rain. Have a meeting to go to. Too tired. Too little time to do it all at once. Not in the mood at all. Have to write something. Have to meet out-of-town relatives. Have to finish the book for book club.”
I am running out of excuses.
Now I have to do it.
The east-facing front yard and front steps--which I have been planting piece-meal with begonias for the last day or so--must be completed. As soon as possible.
The side yard, which contains my old north-facing vegetable garden (Michelle Obama notwhithstanding) and which has grown what I believe are beautiful weeds of goldenrod in recent years--so lush they needed to be held back last year with a piece of plastic gardener’s twine so as not to kill the grass over which they were hanging--is where I will plant 106 impatiens plants to neaten the look this season. As soon as I can.
In the west-facing backyard, I will put in a mix of begonias, petunias and marigolds that are all sitting there in their little black plastic flat-holders. As soon as I get around to it.
But first I think I better catch up on emails, organize a huge pile of paperwork, go to a lecture on Pakistan, get my hair done, go to a Memorial Day weekend party, go to a play, go to Millennium Park, go out to eat, visit with a cousin who is here from out of town. And meet a friend for a holiday brunch.
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By Dan Haley from Oak Park
Posted: 05/26/2009 12:22 PM
Like Virtual Farmgirl I am from Oak Park and think your gardening excuses are just sad and pathetic, Bonnie. Here in Oak Park we rise with the rooster's call and can plant a flat of annuals before the coffee is done percolating. Now I know what you think about people moving to the burbs (jeesh, you laid one on that guy, Irv), but since I am born and raised here I think I am beyond the reach of your scorn! All the best, Dan
By Virtual Farmgirl from Oak Park
Posted: 05/24/2009 10:25 AM
Why don't you schedule some time for your garden and not try to do all this all at once? Divvy up your garden to-do list and tackle one item in the time you schedule permits. It's amazing what you can get accomplished in the morning, before you shower and get ready for the day or late evening while supper's in the oven (or on the grill).