January 12th, 2007
32 Bags of Mulch Later
I need a long, hot bath and a glass of wine. Make that two glasses of wine.
“Just one more trip,” I kept telling myself. How can I turn away from a huge pile of free mulch? I can’t! I figure each lawn and leaf bag hold about the same as one bag of mulch from a big box store. So 32 x 2 x $3 = $192. If a penny saved is a penny earned, then I made $12 an hour–and didn’t have to pay taxes. Of course, if I bought mulch by the yard it would be cheaper but because I don’t have a truck, I’d have to pay a delivery charge.
I also bagged 58 paper grocery sacks of ground pine needles that I’ll compost with the oak leaves I’m still raking up.
At any rate, even when we had a truck, I never had enough mulch to cover all the paths in the meadow evenly. This is a first. And it looks so nice. I’m always pleased with how the garden looks when the paths are tidied.
An ice storm is headed our way. If we’re lucky it will rain first. Bearing this in mind I kept at it. In a couple of days, I’ll be huddling indoors enjoying our week of winter and wondering how the rose bushes, which are beginning to bud, and the vegetable garden will do. I picked enough lettuce for a big salad and three cherry tomatoes today. I don’t think I’ll be able to coddle the tomato through this storm.
If the forecast is correct, my next photo may be of the garden covered in snow.
by M Sinclair Stevens
January 12th, 2007
So “been there” and “done that” (Ugh!)
We have no vehicle access to my back garden so everything has to be carted down the alley or through the garage by hand.
That said, we have put 2 pickup loads of compost on the back garden by hand when first moved in. Probably won’t do that again though. Trying to make my own compost as much as I can.
Rest up and enjoy your wine!
Douglas
January 12th, 2007
Pretty! You should be proud of your hard work.
I’m so used to seeing your garden from certain angles that it’s like seeing a new one in your pictures.
I do feel a sense of smug satisfaction of getting it all hauled from the park and laid down before the rain. I made 18 trips in the Miata. I love the view from above, too. I thought it was an interesting contrast to the photo of paths that’s in the link, taken from ground level. — mss
January 13th, 2007
Your garden looks great with all the tidying! M2 (Austin) is right–seeing your garden from this new angle is like seeing it for the first time. I like wide shots; they really give me a feel for the garden as a whole. Yes, I know I’ve actually visited your garden, but each season makes a garden different, doesn’t it?
Lots of rain this morning in my garden. How about yours?
That’s the view from the roof of the old garden shed. At one time, we could see the capitol building from there and planned to build a two-story studio. Now we’ll probably just update the shed–we couldn’t afford the taxes on a new building. But I do love the view of the garden from above…just like when you take photos of your front garden from your upstairs bedroom window. — mss
January 13th, 2007
What a huge accomplishment! There’s something so pleasing about mulched beds in Austin- both aesthetically, and because as gardeners we like to know the roots are protected from the weather. As Pam said, even though we’ve been in that garden, the mulching and angles made me a little disoriented, too!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose