Dig This!

Seven years ago, I decided one clump of the Maiden grass needed divided, as it had grown thin in the middle with the edges spreading outward.   With trusty sharp shooter in hand, long sleeved shirt and leather gloves, I naively strolled out for what would become a battle of the roots...my nerve roots and the harder-than-steel grass roots! I dug, I pried, I dug some more, I went after a crow bar, I went after concrete blocks, at some point I had nearly half my garden tools surrounding the clump of grass.   Finally, with a crunch loud as Kansas Summer Thunder, the roots let go, half the clump came loose and I was on my end in the middle of the yard. Smiling, I grabbed the ax, and cut the giant clump into 5 smaller ones.   On the opposite side of the yard, near the fence, was the perfect spot and was the perfect home for my liberated grass. I dug holes, planted, fertilized, stood back and beamed at a job well done.Year in and year out the grasses have been a joy.   Cut them back

Anticipation… First Year: A Garden Sleeps Second Year: A Garden Creeps Gardening is a little like being an orchestra conductor.  Planning ahead, a gardener plants bulbs in the fall with the idea that hopefully tulips will bloom at the same time as the spring flowering trees.  Working to get them to perform at the same time with a gorgeous crescendo early spring is the ultimate goal.  But like a conductor, a gardener never knows if the weather will hold with no late freezes that kill the blossoms. If the wind will knock all the pedals off and if  the audience will even notice this brief performance.  Each year is different in the garden as is each concert.   Third Year: A Garden Leaps The garden usually will grow and be stronger each year as will the instrument players become better players.   Anticipation grows; will everything perform at the same time this year?  The following pictures show growth of my garden that is now 6 years old. Submitted by Stafford Garde