Sunday, February 7, 2010

Adventures in Guerilla Gardening

I'm not the outdoorsy type. My "au natural" ideology is pretty superficial. Don't get me wrong, I like the earth, mountains, beaches, and I think they should be protected. I enjoy being in nature; I just don't want "touch" nature. Let's say that Mother earth and I have an understanding and mutual respect (I'm sure that she would guffaw at that.)

However, I am also a "can-be-done" type of person. (That could so be a crude joke.) Give me a sledge-hammer and I will tear down anything, including all the support beams that keep the ceiling from caving in. Oops. I am completely lacking in mechanical know-how. But, I am going to do what I want to do, even if it means charging hell with a water gun. And I want my house to look landscaped!

So all of this equals me in the front yard of a house that I don't even own, raking three bags of pine straw, digging up a tree, three stumps, two bushes, killing a snake (ok, it might have been a worm. But I still screamed.) and putting four azaleas in its place. All while keeping Dmitri entertained and without a shovel.

As I was planting, I became slightly paranoid that someone might stop by and ask me what in the "H" I am doing. Why anyone would ask a young lady with a baby why she was planting azaleas on a beautiful day is beside me, but nonetheless the nagging nervousness persisted. Would I say that you have to plant azaleas in the winter and it would be too late in April when we moved? Or perhaps that I am apart of the guerilla gardening social movement?

I was in the process of re-homing azalea number 3 (who I named Daphne) when my mom called. I told her that indeed, hell had frozen over and I was in the yard planting Azaleas. She asked if I were planting dwarf azaleas? I look on the tag and, "OH MY GOSH, these are supposed to be 6-8 feet tall AND wide." I'm staring at my pretty little bushes, spaced about two feet apart, realizing that this just was not meant to be. But then, "can-be-done, can-be-done" is shouted in my mind, not surprisingly by a man that resembles Don Draper.

Two and a half hours later, all four of them are nicely in a row, like sweet trail maids in antebellum dresses, smiling at me. Also like trail maids, spaced decently apart so their skirts don't crumple. This seems even more appropriate since the breed of azalea that I bought is entitled, "Pride of Mobile." They are just like the ones I grew up with as a child, surrounding our entire southern home outside of Mobile. Perhaps next, I will try to grow Spanish moss in the pine trees...

Here is documentation of the ordeal, in case my family does not believe me.

Before..
 

After..



Don't they look kind of straggly and lonely? Pretty hard to picture them being 8 feet. There is still a lot more to do... But, this was a big deal for me. I cannot wait to see them bloom and grow! I feel a warm tickle-y feeling, as if they were my offspring, created by my own hand. So don't make fun of them. ; )

Do you enjoy gardening, have a favorite plant, or a vegetable garden? Or, like me, are you terrified of BUGS and the evil gardening witch that will eat you if you play in the dirt?

14 comments:

DustyLu said...

Great job! It is alot of work to plant. But, i love it. It so neat to see something you planted grow. Look like a great start. What kind of sun to get in that area? Hydrangea are a fav easy to grow. ~lulu

Christy said...

I am sa-hoooo the gal who's afraid of the evil gardening witch...and icky bugs. Granddaddy long legs especially. They're everywhere down here, and I just don't want to be close to them. That includes standing five feet from them. I have childhood horror stories of them. Need therapy I'm certain. I love nature...I'm just not diggin the inhabitants.

I get your pride for those beautiful azalea bushes. While I'm not an avid gardener, I do plant perennials in pots of all sizes to adorn my front porch as well as the steps leading up, and I have window boxes full of little pretties and such, that I love to see thriving. It's that female nurturing instinct, I think. I'm excited for you. I bet they're going to be beautiful. :0)

Its So Very Cheri said...

I think the new garage sale app is a fabulous idea... more exciting news on it...coming soon.

Cheri

Emily A. Clark said...

I am so not a gardener but glad I found your blog :) Thanks for visiting mine!

Vanessa said...

Mother Nature and I are friendly acquaintances. I can't even keep flowers in a vase alive longer than a day, so she asks that I steer clear of any of her landscaping.

Sara said...

Your yard is very beautiful, great job!

Someday when we get a house ,I would love to plant, I am not very talented at planting, or gardening, but am hoping to learn

Suka said...

Hi,

Thank you for your very kind comment on my blog! It is always a treat to find a kind comment from someone new. I appreciate it!

You have a very pretty blog and the b/w photo of you and your husband and baby is just lovely! Good luck on your azaleas!

KrisAnne (and Suka)

kittybutt said...

Ha ha! You are so funny! "...might have been a worm"!!!! That kills me! The azaleas look great! What color are the blooms going to be?

Mandi Miller said...

I have a "black" thumb. I will kill any and all greenery that is left under my control. I once killed a Chia Pet. It's really sad. Sean had some Tomato plants last summer and left for about a week. All I had to do was water them twice a day, which I faithfully did. Within 2 days the leaves were falling off and the entire plant was wilting. So I try to stay away from our yard as much as possible. At least Sean is good at it!!

Cindy @The Flipping Couple said...

I love gardening...but hate bugs. Do those two even work together?? I'm really looking forward to putting in a garden this spring. Can't wait to see how the azaleas turn out!

Bailey Doehler Designs said...

Your blog is fun to read! Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I completely understand about babies eating things...i have a 2.5 year old and she got into many things.

Unknown said...

Looking good! I bet the more you do in the yard, the more you will enjoy it. I find yard work to be very relaxing! Except for cutting grass. I need to make peace with that! What did you do with the tree that was there before? Was that a magnolia? Can't wait to see the house!!

The Four Week Vegan said...

Good for you. I hate gardening or any type of yardwork. It's just not my thing. I do wish I liked it or even felt compelled to do it, but there are no gardens in my future.

KellyMellyBoBellyBananaFanna said...

I love gardening, although I'm not all that good at it. But I try!

Here's a little yard that I was working on not to long ago...

http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com/2009/09/before-and-progress-little-blue-house.html

Kelly