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| Joe Pye Weed, enough to rename the rose garden |
The postman only left a gardening packet today. That was it. "Only one?" I wondered.
Christina and I were going to Walmart. She wanted a haircut, so I went inside to get her. The garage door was open and the postman left a surprise - a large box from Growers Exchange. They pack plants the way people pack prized china.'
The haircut went well and we headed home. The weather was already changing, with a steady cold wind suggesting a long rain. Soon I was in clover, literally, sitting on a bed of clover planting the Joe Pye Weed in the back yard.
Questions
"Joe Pye is a weed?" Yes, that is the name, but the plant grows in one spot and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It must be ordered before spring to beat the rush.
"Joe Pye grows 9 feet tall?" Yes, the Pyes began shading the roses quite a bit last year, so I am pruning them back in the front yard - somewhat.
Carbon Cowboys say, "Leave living roots in the ground as long as possible." The perennials come back every year, so they are a major addition to a garden. As they grow stronger, they improve the soil and rain penetration into the soil.
Earthworm Count
The traditional measure of good soil is an earthworm in every shovel of soil. I enjoyed digging deep little holes, each handful of soil holding at least one earthworm. The rain will further fatten the new red wigglers.
I soak all new plants in rainwater, so they can reverse the dehydration of shipping. Growers Exchange packs them in perfect shape with plastic to hold in moisture. I gave them all a bath anyway, so they would start out strong. After eight (8) of them were in the ground and staked - to mark them and warn clumsy feet like mine - I poured 10 gallons of rainwater on the bunch, gently and precisely.
We should get rain tonight and plenty tomorrow. All day I will be enjoying the work done outside by the nitrogen rich storm, tons falling down, absorbed by wooden and organ mulch.
Ranger Bob, Sassy and I had coffee before the planting began. A juvenile rabbit began to cut across the rose garden as we watched. Bob ordered an immediate attack, but Sassy knew better. The rabbit was alerted and double-timed to our neighbor's yard.
Sassy barked sharply at Bob, so I told her to come over for some petting. She likes to be asked, so she came over and got a thorough fur massage from Bob. That was a fun day, marked by a phone call from good friends.
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| Hawk on the bird feeder (garbage barrel). He sat there a long time and watched me like a... |
