LAST WEEK, ASHLEY wrote about my challenges with the lawn. She commented how I turn our lawn mower into the Lawn Killing Machine. Yes, I admit that I have the HC disorder — I am horticulturally challenged.
There are many facets to my problem, but it should be noted that we don’t have a small yard. It is several acres of mowed grass. Although Ashley thinks the lawn should resemble something like a plush golf course, I have tried to explain to her that there is beauty in a yard with brown spots and a lot of weeds.
Although I may be horticulturally challenged, I do have a dream — to be selected as Lawn of the Month.
This spring, I thought the lawn was looking nice. I was laying down some mulch, Ashley’s tulips were blooming and I wondered if the Lawn of the Month committee drove by whether we would be selected.
Just as I was thinking about that, a car drove slowly down our road. The driver seemed to be really inspecting our house. He drove past and then backed up. He got out of his car and started to walk up to me.
I thought, “Is this the moment that he might place the coveted Lawn of the Month sign in our yard?” I wondered whether I should get the kids and Ashley so they could witness this historic moment.
The man reached me; he looked around and then said, “Is this your water meter?” pointing to the ugly steel cover in the ground that I nearly run over every time I mow.
“Yep, I replied.”
“Umm ...” he said looking around “Do you own the water meter next door?”
“Yep”, I replied again.
He said OK, got back in his car and drove off.
So the man was with the rural water company and not the Lawn of the Month committee, but I had hoped he might pass a message along to the Master Gardeners.
I am sad to report that another lawn season has come to an end, and it’s another year we didn’t win.
But I don’t feel too bad because Emporia resident Mike Turnbull didn’t win this year either. From my intelligence gathering, I suspect he invested a lot more effort and time to win the prize than I did.
For instance, I have never seen Mike really do any manual labor. That was until one day I was driving along 15th Avenue past his house when I almost ran off the road because I witnessed him doing yard work. I pulled over and asked if was feeling alright.
He said he had been selected for the garden tour and was getting his yard in order. He had put down 1,200 bags of rocks, removed four truckloads of tree limbs and even went to Chase County and picked up some rocks from the Flint Hills.
He commented how he was not able to win Lawn of the Month, and we lamented about that for a while.
Mike usually gets what he wants so I can only wonder what horticultural experts he will be bringing down from K-State to help him land the prestigious award next year.
To Mike and others who dream of winning Lawn of the Month and having that coveted sign placed in your yard — it’s only six months until judging begins again.
create (anonymous) says...
A sound biosystem does not have only one species of growth. In other words, ya gotta have more than just grass. You gotta have all kinds of stuff like weeds and bugs and fungi and mosses and well, you get the picture.
And quit spraying chemicals!
And tell Ashley that tulips don't naturalize but daffodils will. If you want more that is. Why waste your $ on tulips?
October 4, 2009 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Tulips are a bit prettier than daffodils.
Based on Observation's landscaping techniques,I believe I have had him as a neighbor before. ;-)
October 4, 2009 at 9:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Me??? Dig worms or FISH??????? You must be kidding!!!! I must have been the neighbor on the other side of you....you know, the prissy one :-)
October 4, 2009 at 7:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
But how did the seeds get here?
October 5, 2009 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Echinacea purpurea (coneflowers), and the delphiniums (blue and white) are growing wild along the gravel roads 7 mi. south of Emporia. Sounds native enough to me ;-)
October 5, 2009 at 11:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
"Are You suggesting the coconuts migrate?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHFXG3...
R. and his trusty servant Patsy
October 5, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
ROFL!!!!
October 5, 2009 at 7:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
No basil? No basil? What kind of an outfit is that anyway? No basil? Calm down, create, do you hear me girl, calm it! Calm it!
Yes, but, how do they make tomato confit without basil?
(runs out to the garden in the dark to sniff the basil that remains after the pesto festival).
October 5, 2009 at 7:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Seriously, can squirrels carry coconuts? I have a coconut still in its husk. Just one so I can't sing about having a whole lovely bunch.
October 5, 2009 at 7:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
"Seriously, can squirrels..........?"
Why do you think he'd know? ;-)
October 5, 2009 at 9:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
YY4U, I could see no basil listed on that guide you so graciously provided. But I'm guessing they don't believe that basil is a vegetable. Alas!
It's green. Surely it has antioxidant properties.
I'll bet those medieval knights and peasants have a formula for knowing the answer.
"I say, is basil a vegetable?"
"Basil? No, of course not. Basil is my cousin from Roxbury."
(pregnant pause)
"A vegetable you say?"
(another pregnant pause)
"Had he been ill or was it sudden?"
October 6, 2009 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Absolutely. You would have pot bound basil that is constantly in need of water, and not the beautiful stuff that grows in the ground. To be fair, in late August, I do plant some basil in a container to have on hand for the wintertime. This stays in my laundry room under a gro light where I can pluck it fresh.
I'm glad too that you planted it in your garden. I just love it. Just last evening I put some good olive oil on a plate, added some mashed fresh garlic, then sprinkled on chopped basil. Great for dipping bread. With a nice glass of red wine. Nice.
October 6, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
"Absolutely. You would have pot ......................the beautiful stuff that grows in the ground. To be fair, in late August, I do plant some" create
I never would have guessed it.
R.
October 6, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
LOL seriously! Basil Brownies. LOL
October 7, 2009 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )