Clean Dirt

For some reason known only to blogger, I am unable to post more pictures. This garden is 4 years old. It started as a low spot of the lawn that I hated to mow. Any amount of rain would result in a soggy ground that was difficult to mow and easy to lose one's footing in. If he who only rides to mow tried, it resulted in deep grooves from the weight of the mower carrying him, so it was left for me to handle with the push mower. I don't mind pushing a mower. I need to walk anyway and I might as well push something as I go. Mowing is kind of like painting ......... you get to see the results right away.


But, this low area was hard to mow and when it dried out, the grass was sparse and unsightly. So, I decided that it needed lots of dirt brought in to create another spot for a garden. I wasn't sure what the shape would be or what I wanted to plant. I like to let these things evolve, you know. I commissioned he who loves his loud equipment to climb upon his trusty tractor with the bucket on the front to go forth and bring me some dirt! He had told me that he had a spot in the field that had some nice rich dirt with no weeds. I believed him.


He brought load after load of this "clean" dirt to the designated spot while I was busy with swimmers. I happily anticipated leveling my dirt and planting some flowers. At closing time I eagerly grabbed the hoe and garden rake to get started............ You can only imagine my disappointment when I saw the weeds sticking out of each and every pile of soil. "Um, I thought you said this was weed free ......" "Those are wild flowers!" "No, really, those are weeds."


We went back and forth, but nothing could be done at that point. Some one had given me one of those giant packet of wild flower seed, so I strewed them about and waited to see what would happen. I didn't like the results. The flowers were tall and leggy and looked all weedy and scraggly. So, I pulled them all up and started over. It has taken four years of constant weeding and mulching and finally it looks the way I want it to. Tiger lilies are in the middle and the area facing the front is lined with day lilies. Hostas circle the area near the maple tree and the ground cover, that I do not have a clue as to the name, adds a lovely yellow hue. The iris in front of the tiger lilies is just beginning to bloom. Soon there will be marigolds popping up every where. I save the seed every year and simple toss it on the ground before I add mulch every spring.


The sycamore tree started out as nothing more than a stick coming out of the ground. That must have been in the "clean" dirt from the field. I suppose the tree makes up for all the weeding ......