Gardens 2026

[Nancy]

That was short lived I was only able to mow half of the back yard.
The 20 ish year old mower needs replaced. '
I've been doing research and made a decision.
Dson was great to help find a deal and we talked it over quite a bit & I'll pay for it and he will order it on line for me.

Electric is my decision, with extra tools trimmer, blower, too hoping DD will come and do some of that.
But ... she has other work so may or may not happen.

I did plenty of yt research and other shopping before coming to that decision.

[Nancy]

Dson was by yesterday for a bit.
He sprayed the driveway I'm so glad to not have to deal with those weeds this year! Yea!
enough other things omm.
He checked out the old mower and confirmed my diagnosis that it's toast!

I used a couple of manual tools got a small sliver it came out quickly but
glad I do not have to do that as my only method of grass cutting.
Might find the mower I want in stock earlier than I thought feeling
hopeful.


got out the hoses and moved the block for the steps by the shed.

[Nancy]

I am resuming my habit of pulling 5 weeds when I'm outside in the back yard.
Did that today.
I am trying to make it my sanctuary.

-----
Got my new mower Green works electric 80 Volt one.
It's set up batteries are charged.
Have not used it yet too wet & dewy out still.

[Kittykatt]

That's a very good habit, to help male your garden even more beautiful, Nancy!

Yesterday was warm enough to sit out in my garden and read, so I did!I also trimmed back the Campanula that's threatening.to.xhome.a.low growing rose. I think if I keep an eye on it they will be able to coexist happily together. I also ordered the nematodes to deal with vine weevil,.and the predator mites for the fuchsia gall mite. They should arrive this week.

[Nancy]

Ty Kittykat.

I put the mower away in the shed in front after mowing ahead of the rains on a lower setting.
I got the box put away in it as well.
I'll move it to the back yd. potting shed after the next time I use it.
Still needs to be cleaned underneath the deck.
Saw the neighbor kid getting mowing lessons yesterday.

I am proud I got the fire pit fun day this week and the pile of branches is gone!
Yea!

Robins are loving the ice cream bucket cut in half after it split the
perfect size for a bath for them!

[Nancy]

It's been raining so I fertilized the yard those are pellets.
Saved me having to use the hoses.
Next I need to write about doing that in my lime green garden planner. X

-----
They changed the forecast it's not going to be 79* like they said for Fri.
mtn. snow had passes closed.

I got two rosemary plants will put them out in a day or two when it's warmer.
Too cold here for tender plants.
I'm in zone 6 so some things just cannot make it.

I am considering a gardening fork shorter handle like a spade half length.
I think I know where might have it locally.
Also for got to look for hose holders the wind up one that supposedly you could pull out
was a real pain pain to wind up.

-----
Our plant truck comes on Tues. here.
The nursery down the road from w- Mart has seedlings they start and are nice plants
here mom's day weekend is the day they get wiped out.

[Harriet]

Hurray! I can finally play in the dirt again after about a year and a quarter of being restricted.

Today tried shopping the chain store of a large garden center. You would think it would be easier than trying a home improvement store when you know you just want nursery items. Still, there was a good bit of time and effort in this trip, and it was not happy-husband-quality shopping. No irrigation hose ( ? ). What are they thinking?

If there was a success, it was that I found the large lantanas I wanted, in yellow rather than having to choose second favorites. (I've learned that only the yellow of lantana's relatively small blooms will show up against the brick in the area I want to plant.) And I found a few other annuals that were somewhat "on my list". Sadly, a favorite was completely picked over and there was only one plant left, probably because it didn't have an open bloom at the moment, so you had to read rather than get a visual clue. I hope it isn't old and spent - looks pretty good.

We shopped vegetable plants there. Nope. They don't seem to get the whole food-garden-economy concept. Probably nothing made me feel quite so disappointed that I wasn't allowed to play in the dirt until now - I could have grown tomatoes and peppers from seed.

They had impatiens in the same containers as the ones I found at the other nursery, but so carefully planned that there was exactly one in each. So, they'd done a professional job, lol, but not the value that a gardener of my ilk (cheap, and happy to work more than spend) would appreciate as much. The same containers I purchased Sunday will yield about 3 plants each, because I will separate and baby them. Oh, well, they had the "Violet Shades" color that I really wanted.

So, along with a tuberous begonia specimen I splurged on Sunday, I've found
good potting soil to help make more babies outside, happier houseplants inside - check
Pineapple Yellow tall Lantana - check
Saffron Finch Vista Yellow Petunia - check
Beacon Impatiens Coral, Violet Shades, Rose, and even a stray Red - check

Bordeaux Petunia - rescued ONE orphan

Still looking for several plants that I would love to find. (and that hose!) Kinda wish I'd held out for just a big home improvement store that would be likely to have a variety, but who knows.

Feeling kinda sorry that I didn't approve some "choices" HRH made on the fly, just walking around saying, "that's pretty ... isn't it?" They were odd (like striped, he kept pointing out striped?) and not on any list of value or tried-and-true at all, but maybe I should have said, "sure, let's try it". As it was, he didn't come home with any "ownership" and probably won't take as much interest. Especially since vegetables were a bust so far.

[Harriet]

Took a very mini detour through the quality nursery the girls took me to last weekend, HRH and I thinking we'd have the practical good luck ddolder did to be able to shop tomatoes and other veggies. But their veggie stock was so far down it was admittedly bad even according to the staff. We only found leftover a white tomato ( ? ) and a pink cherry tomato, at which HRH wrinkled his nose. The lady says last weekend was a wipeout with so many customers, but a vegetable truck comes this evening. I can tell ddolder she was there in the nick of time.

And one reason for a "run" on this nursery. The staff chatted with us (HRH gets everyone to chat with him - a white-bearded man with a "Pepaw" hat is evidently irresistible) and it turns out the new development will make their ability to continue impossible. They will relocate two towns over at quite a distance. So, I felt down, as did other customers hearing bits of this.

Found (through no fault of my own) the UNpractical:
pink Double Up begonia, which I haven't found since 2022. I know right where they will look their best near my back door.

Some more little-pot orphans because they're fun:
The sort of striped Calibrachoa HRH thought was pretty, and I shot his idea down yesterday. A better specimen here, very stocky, healthy.
Hoopla Petunia, new, to see what all the hoopla is about, lol. plus it's bi-colored as HRH likes as well.
JazzBerry Petunia
Bubblegum Petunia (happy hummingbirds, butterflies)
Tall African Marigold for dgsW, who asked for yellow flowers, so Grandma has to buy 3 different kinds.

[Nancy]

I am so glad to peek in here to be reminded the plant truck comes today!
Yea need to put that on my list to check when I'm at the store for some other items.
I did mow the bits that I did not get to last time I mowed.
Battery was low and I was bushed ~ Fri. I think when I did it.

[Nancy]

So I was enthralled with all the blooms and new glasses to see em with!
I got a garden sage plant ; did not find the purple one I like.
Two oregano plants are in the earth this evening by the deck.
As are 8 marigold plants in a viriety of colors a good mix.
I could not find sweet 100's Tom. plants but they did have sweet 1 millions ones so I got that. I've grown them before. And the early girl that has done well for me. Also in the ground.

I moved a less desirable plant to the back of the yard instead of by the deck.
Now I need to put some things else there in that hole.

Rain tomorrow so I can put out some seeds.
I mowed again in the main part of the back yard.