There is too much sedum over here, but not enough of anything over there. The soil came loose with the weeds’ roots, so the dirt is ready for anything. By grace the sedum comes out in neat little plugs which can be transfered like so many tufts of Biden hair to the bald patch. One hopes they will take and remove the necessity of mowing that slope.
Any reduction of mowing is to be celebrated. Not because of a reduction in fossil fuel consumption. Indeed, no fuel is consumed by the mower except shakshuka and falafel. Or chinese food and the best of the Laughing Seed. And, of course, tater tots. Well, you get the idea. The point is less mowing, more landscaping.
Which Doug’s Chinese mums could provide, the more I look at them. Their nice fall flowers give a needed balance to a mostly springtime array. Yet they are hella invasive and had to be restrained. Again, they readily emerged in great clumps. Alas there was no bald spot for them. A composting they shall go.
In along with the zuchini plant leaves. Mad dogs and Englishmen plant zuchini anywhere near another vegetable. The constant trimming is enough to drive one insane, and yet it brings forth a fear that fruit shan’t be borne as all the energy goes to the leaves. But who can argue with such fecundity of cucumbers, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant?
Actually, the eggplant may be a goner, riddled as it is with insect gnawings. One is moved to pity and considers applying an insectacidal soap yet is restrained by the thought that this humble eggplant may be the Churchill of the garden, standing strong against a harsh invader for the good of the rest of the row.
The least that can be done is to douse Sir Winston with a little extra water each time it is applied. The rain barrel remains handy and is now elevated seven more inches so that the principal of gravity may be more effectively illustrated. Raising the barrel was not so challenging as was modifying the downspout. Again. Tin snips are assuredly a proof of divine benevalence.
That this modification was done in the rain must be classified a “bummer” but not without consideration that the rain stopped simultaneous to the completion of the task. The barrel was not, obviously, refilled by the freshet as one might have hoped. (The barrel having been drained in order to be elevated, of course.) No matter. There is rain predicted for tomorrow, and of course the plantings will not need water before then.