Updating the landscape...

One of the things you learn quite early about living in the country is farmers grow crops and they almost always spray the fields with insecticides. Guess what -- the bugs figured that out too. So shortly after the fields are sprayed, like within a few hours or so, all those bugs leave and move in over at our house on the flowers, trees and the grass.

This year, they pretty much got our purple plum and the burning bushes out front. The guy at the nursery said the purple plum is susceptible to disease and will usually only last about 10 years or so. Hmmm ... let's see, we moved in in 1997 and planted in 1998 so it looks like we got to the "or so" part of its life. It really looks bare on that corner of the house right now. We planted a red bush that is supposed to get to a pretty decent size, and we'll do some other things there in the spring. But for now it looks quite different.

We decided to replace some things. In the process, we took out some things and discovered some local residents in the process. The little bunnies had been driving Pam crazy all spring eating the stems of the geraniums. We used a number of home-brew remedies to try to stop them (red pepper finally worked). Guess it got them to mating as opposed to eating. Anyway, there were three nests -- one in the lamb's ear, one in the sea grass and the one above. The first two took off when the guys started working. This guy must have thought he was safe since no one messed with the plant he chose to call home.

The burning bushes got the yank and were replaced by boxwoods. I really like them, they remind me of my time in D.C. Pam and I would visit the gardens at the National Cathedral on the weekends and they had real nice ones and they really smelled good.

You can see the new burning bushes over behind the birch trees. I think that will add a nice touch of color on that end of the house. We may also plant some ground flowers over there in the spring.

One of the things I have really come to enjoy in this thing called "retirement" is rocking in the chair on the porch, reading a good book, having Bailey lying at my feet, watching the birds (especially the hummingbirds) come and go, and seeing the butterflies battle the winds to get to the butterfly bushes. I like the deep red of the geraniums, the cool dark green of the grass, and the light leaves of the birches doing their dance in the breezes. I know those little bugs are still lurking, but it will be winter soon, and they'll get theirs...at least until next year when the cycle will start all over again.

The planting of things is the least self-centered thing we can do. It is a pure act of faith. We can't really control the outcome, and can only marginally influence the process ... kinda like raising a family. We can only plant and hope. I like this quote below..........

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy. Cares will drop off like autumn leaves. (John Muir)

Hooah