Tuesday, May 18, 2010

It’s All Down Hill

Well it seems we are having our April showers
finally. I am trying to look on the bright side in
that all this rain will most likely be of benefit to
the water table and needed this summer.
The early blooms are being pounded off though
and that is a disappointment. About all of the
Rhododendron blooms are knocked off and the early
blooming roses just look miserable now and all the
flowers are hanging their heads all but the Columbines
which have nodding blooms anyway.

Pansies2_2010

The grass in the lawn is loving all this rain and growing
like the weeds that it is made up of.


Pansy2_May13

A huge, heavy limb came off of a tree in the woods
yesterday and where did it land ?
You got it right in a section of the woodland bed
crunching the Oreo Iris, achillea, echinacea,
hydrangea and the Blue Fortune agastache.

OreoIris_May13

No One Touches My Oreo!
Be it cookie or flower.

Pansy3_May13

So crazy woman goes out and tries dragging it out.
Seeing crunched flowers can really tick you off and give
you that adrenaline rush you need to drag huge limbs.
Well a touch of old Taurus bull headedness, thrown in with
a little Irish and German blood helps too.

Pansy4_May13

So much careful tugging, lifting, dragging and a whole
lot of mumbling under my breath
(the neighbors don’t need to hear my nice words or hear
me talking to a limb, they already wonder about all of
this camera shooting anyway and a certain gold gnome)
I got the monster limb off of the flowers
and even got it down over the hillside to lay beside a
brush pile.
Did you know you can really get some good momentum
going down over a hillside even dragging a monster limb
behind you? Even sliding out of the sandals that you
jumped into on the way out the door to inspect said limb
which had the nerve to fall on your flowers.
Nope, nothing could have stopped my sliding down
over the hillside. Rocks, green briars, small tree limbs,
Nothing!
We all have saw the scene where the guy falls flat,
promptly jumps up and says “I’m alright!”
To be that spry would be a wonderful thing.
Do not fear the sandals made it through the downhill
slide and were retrieved on the way back up.
Reminded me of the time I laid the milk can down
while I was working on the same bed and it went rolling
down over the same hillside. I wasn’t worried because
I knew when got to the little gully at the end of the
yard it would get stopped.
Who knew a rolling milk can could roll so fast that
it would roll right up over that gully through the
green briers. Even screaming
”stop, stop you stupid can” did not slow it on its
final destination through the green briers over fallen
logs to the hollow below.
Did I forsake it and say "just stay in the hollow"?
Nope, it was the principle of the thing, so I drug that
stupid milk can back up through all of those obstacles,
huffing, puffing, gasping for air and moved it to a level
part of the yard where the stupid thing could not move an
inch. Satisfied I had beaten the runaway milk can I then
go into the house and doctor the scratches.
Hey, the milk can was fine and came through it all
with out any noticeable big scratches or dents.

Pansy5_May13

And today out front the sound of shredders, saws
and machinery are blasting even in the rain.
Now, where were those Aspaugh tree trimmers at
yesterday when I could have bribed them to get the
limb for me?
Always ‘a day late and a dollar short’ as the old
saying goes.
I kid you not !
They are trimming the trees away from the electric
lines in front of the house so limbs, sticks and wet
leaves are flying and falling all over the front yard.
Wonder if they will clean up after themselves and rake
all those wet leaves up?
No, I don’t think so either.

Happy Gardening Anyway!

Until Next Time,
Lona

30 comments:

Antique ART Garden said...

Men are so helpful when they are actually THERE to help, but they seem to be gone when we need them right ? Or more likely when we can't wait for them, too funny about moving the big bad limb ! Take care, Gina

Balisha said...

Lona, Lona...I'm laughing so hard. Lucky you weren't tumbling down the hill. Beautiful flower pictures.
Balisha

Becca's Dirt said...

I am laughing so hard at visualizing you going down the hill. Not once but twice. You go girl. Beautiful blooms today. I love the colors. Gorgeous iris.

Patsy said...

Only in your dream will they clean up there mess, the bad old milk can I hope is now full of pretty flowers. The photo's of the pansy's are delightful.
Patsy

Roses and Lilacs said...

I can just see you turning into a creature of 10 times your strength and walking off with that limb like it was a twig:)

I had planned to cut down some lilac branches after work but the wind is crazy today. No way am I going to try to control large, leafy branches in this wind.
Marnie

A Garden of Threads said...

LOL, imaging you down the hill twice. Hope you and the flowers are doing better. Of course you now have to clean the front yard. The pansies look wonderful by the way. Try to have a wonderful day.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Wow, we had rain but nothing like you went through. I am glad you are okay and hope that your plantings survive. It is supposed to get better over the weekend - have you heard that before?

Martha said...

Lovely flowers! Especially the pansies!

Jim Groble said...

Great looking flowers. Pat and I lucked out at the plant sale, no rain. It's been raining so long by us that the water justs stands there. My hosta love it, but so do the weeds. jim

Unknown said...

Thanks for the giggles - that's a terrific story. I'm sure it didn't seem like it at the time, but I bet you're laughing about it now.

And men, who needs men. We women are the ones that land up doing most of the work anyways. They won't clean up all those leaves and debri. But I know you will.

Stephanie said...

What a day! Sorry for messiness done to your beautiful garden. Have a good rest today yeah...

pogonip said...

I'll go to sleep with a smile on my face while I think of you yelling at the milk can to stop. That is so something I would do, lol!

I hope your babies survive their scare with the limb bully.

Autumn Belle said...

Ha Ha, you make me laugh too. Reminds me of Jack & Jill and their pail of water.

Lona, my Wordless Wednesday post today is dedicated to you.

Bonnie said...

Too funny! Love your photos!

Joe Todd said...

And all this time I thought the rumbling in the south was thunder. LOL

Lona said...

Gina: I think they have a second sense where they know to stay away LOL!

Balisha: I had the green briers to slow me down and keep me upright LOL!

Becca: I can laugh about it know wondering what a sight I was making. LOL!

Patsy: That is exactly what I intend to do with that milk can. But it is still level ground for the hateful thing LOL!

Marnie: The Hulk it is with out the green body. Red is the color LOL! It is hard to trim branches in the wind for certain. They tend to hit back ;-)

A Garden of Threads: Surprisingly they did a pretty good job of cleaning up. My jaw dropped LOL!

Eileen: Yes, they are telling us it is going to warm up now and I am ready.

Martha: Thanks and so glad you dropped by.

Jim: Glad you had good weather. Ohio has different weather for different parts so one doesn't know. That is why my grass grows so good Jim it is all weeds LOL!

Heather: It is comical now that it is all over.Not so much then.Hey, surprise, surprise, they did a pretty good job of cleaning up.;-)

Stephanie: I have camped indoors until the rain stops. At my age you cannot stand to much adventure at a time LOL!

Pogonip: I got the plants straightened back up. One was broken but the rest were just smashed. I think they will come out of it. Doesn't everyone talk to rolling cans? LOL!

Autumn Belle: If only I would have had Jack along. On second thought he may have just gotten in the way with my bad self going on there. LOL!

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Imagining you talking to and dragging the big branch while losing your sandals along the way is pretty funny, although probably at the time it wasn't. Getting that limb off your plants was probably like the stories you hear of mothers lifting cars off their children.
Hopefully the tree trimmers cleaned up their mess and you're done with that for awhile.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

I love all of your lovely pansies. I sure hope you are feeling fine today after you slide down the hillside. If those tree trimmers clean up, I'll be surprised. It would be nice if they did, but I wouldn't want to bet on it.

Have a nice day ~ FlowerLady

Lona said...

Flowerlady: LOL! I have to just shake my head and laugh at myself sometimes.

Catherine:Crazy woman I will admit LOL!

Joe LOL! LOL! Just me Joe. You can go golf. LOL!

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

My goodness Lona, what an ordeal! How very rude of the branch to crunch your beautiful blooms, I'd be furious too! (as it stands, I can only be mad at myself, I crunched a just emerging hosta today, I stood there thinking 'I wonder where the dwarf blue is that I planted here somewhere', but I digress...) You are very dedicated, and the milk can story is brilliant. Hope things improve for you soon!

Anonymous said...

Oh Lona, I'm glad you weren't hurt, but I'm picturing you rolling down the hill too! Isn't this weather the pits? I was off Monday and Tuesday, wanted to play in the garden, but nothing but rain. At least I got a break from watering all my seedlings!

Christine B. said...

Sheesh, and here I was set to complain about the wind in my next post. I don't think I have the right to gripe about anything ever again after all you've been through.

Don't think the neighbors have heard any colorful words from me but I should note I have a fountain and I believe that filters the noise (from me) a bit;)

Christine in Alaska

Anonymous said...

Hi Lona Dear, Nobody touches my Oreos!! Now there's a mantra for life.

I'm glad you lived to tell about your [not so] little adventure. Whew!

I've often wished the municipal "arborists" were in my neck of the woods too, just to help me out of a usually self-imposed pickle. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way, does it? I had to laugh. They've been all around the area lately butchering away... and yet still managed to miss the limb that knocked out the power to 30,000 customers including moi, during yesterday's windstorm.

I enjoy your sense of humor about it all. Sometimes all we can do is laugh about it. :) I'll think of you next time I dive into my Oreos!

Rose said...

It's amazing how we can summon some unknown strength when we have to protect our loved ones:) Glad you are all right, though. Yes, we are having the April showers now, too. I'm frustrated because this was the week I was going to plant all my annuals, and now they're going to have to wait. But in another month I'll probably be wishing for rain!

Stella said...

I can just see you talking to your self as you as you pulled that limb down the hill. I am sure demented was not the work I heard that neighbors whispering. What, now she's chasing a can.

Lona said...

Rebecca: LOL! I could so see myself doing exactly what you did LOL!

Robin: I want to get some of my annuals planted too. I have been hardening off and they have had all kinds of weather this week LOL!

Christine: I would need more than a fountain to cover my tantrums. Sound carries a long way up on this hill LOL!

Grace: They flat topped all of my shade trees along the road. They look awful!

Rose: I know girl. Before the summer is out I will be wanting this rain. So can't complain too much. I am never satisfied I guess LOL!

Stella: My poor neighbors must think I am getting senile and a little off by now LOL!

Wanda said...

Thanks so for the visit and the kind words. I know what you mean about the rain we have had it in every form today, with wind and hail.On of my favorite rose's is laying flat on the ground on it's side it was so full of buds that it broke into I hope it will recover, there are new growth shoots at the base. Your photos are beautiful I love the pansies. TTFN

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Oh, Lona, I am laughing so hard at this story! I'm stuck indoors, once again, since I doubt it will ever stop raining but you've put a silly joyous spin on the frustrations!

Carol said...

Lona, This is a hilarious post except, of course, for your falling!! I hope you did not get hurt at all. I am often working on a hillside too and do not wear the best shoes for the chore sometimes. Your milk can story is a riot... imagining you clamoring up the hill! Funny too about how we are perceived by our neighbors! Gardeners can become a bit eccentric! I think it is a good way to be! I love your pansies and hope you are having sunny days by now. Did those guys clean up after themselves? ;>)

Lona said...

Wanda: Most of the time these plants are most forgiving of the treatment the weather deals them so your roses will probably spring back up with the sun. Thanks for dropping by.

Kate: I have to tell this stupid adventures I bring on myself to keep me in line LOL!

Carol: If I had just came back in a changed shoes and went about it all logically
instead of going full blast things may have went a whole lot smoother. LOL!