Day 928: We're ready

We're ready.  I have weeded every one of 15 flower beds multiple times, then hauled the debris away to the compost pile.  The last forty feet of the property line bed nearly killed us.   I chopped, hoed, shoveled and pulled those rascally intruders.  Then, I dug and bagged thousands of invasive violets, onions and garlic mustard.  Steve has loaded about a thousand trailer loads of black mulch and then distributed it all over the yard after putting preen and fertilizer on all the beds.  Twelve yards of mulch!

We planted ten new lilies, transplanted a few and removed several rogue lilies.  Eight new hostas were added and a few more transplanted.  Two new variegated dogwood bushes were planted in the long property line bed and then promptly eaten by the deer.  Night after night we sprayed with stinky liquid fence to keep away the deer.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

But, the yard is beautiful.  Breathtaking really.  Certainly worth the effort.  We had a frozen margarita to celebrate!  Tomorrow, it will be the best it can be for the season, then we will slack off and enjoy it.

After all the work was done, I swam 120 lengths.  As I swam, banks of dark clouds gathered and a cold wind cut like it was October.  Just as I exited the pool, the polar vortex hit!  At least it felt like it.

Raspberry Beret