Reality of Two Failed Meadows

 

            Ok... Now I am over  four years trying to garden in this totally different area,  lower zone, new garden style and unique culture than my Kentucky Gardens  I knew the first couple years would be tough but I was and still are ready for challenges. But sometimes it is good to admit that the time has come to make some choices.

            At 72, I still am the Queen of my Gardens. However in my  Kentucky gardens, I had help at least once a week. Here that is not the case. I knew that going into this big adventure.   I came in wide eyed and bushy tailed as my Mom use to say, ready to tackle the impossible. Now, four years in  I am admitting a temporary defeat but no, let me rephrase that ... I am moving forward. I want gardens that I can enjoy and actually do the work to maintain and enjoy. 

            I think it would be good to preference this course of action, with a brief overview of the last couple months. To put a long story short, we have over $81.000 dollars worth of hail damage to all existing structures. We had a major flood and leak in the lower level, resulting in having to remove and take away many items I loved and cherished. Replacing carpet and extensive drywall repair. 

         We have had over 10 trees collapse on the driveway. So our 1/4 mile drive to our house looks like a war zone. 

          However, I am lucky so many others in our beloved Brown County have gone through much worse situations. 

           This last two weeks, it finally stopped raining and I pushed and pushed to plant and catch up. So much that I made my self sick from dehydration.  

           Today, I feel great again and have made a big decision ... to let some of my demises go for now. I am going to mow two areas where I have been struggling to make meadows. The invasive plants have become too much for me to conquer at this time, 

        Establishing meadow gardens has been one of the mossy difficult forms of gardening I have ever done. Perhaps because I did not understand the weedy invasive demons in the form of bittersweet and stilt grass and autumn olive I was going up against.  I did not properly clear the land of these enemies before trying to plant. So all I have done it throw plants, seeds and plugs into the areas to be swollen up by the  invasive devils. 

        My approach now is to mow it all down and focus on the areas where I have accomplished success.    

        There have been many and I am so proud of my native perennials. My gardens are alive and my veggies are producing and happy in their Birdies Containers.  So much to be happy with just need to eliminate the stress.  

        I need time to sit and enjoy my gardens. Listen to the birds, watch the multitude of native bees and butterflies Blog more and enjoy the very thing that brings me the most happiness....the sound of my gardens alive.  (plus the grandkids and my Maggie)

        So tomorrow two failed meadows will return to nature and I will sit on the porch and smile. And maybe sip that glass of wine.