I thought about trying to do something special for the jubilee yesterday -- go into town, check out the crowds, watch some of the festivities. But instead, I weeded the patio.
I guess practicality won out, huh?
I hadn't done this task in a couple of years. Above is the "before" shot, and you can see all the Mexican fleabane and other weeds growing up through the cracks between the paving. We don't use Roundup or any other kind of weed killer, so I pulled the weeds by hand, swept the whole thing clean and wound up with this:
Not a bad day's work. A robin hovered nearby as I weeded, waiting to snap up any scurrying bugs. You can't quite tell from the photo above but I left a few select weeds behind -- some beautiful coltsfoot, a clump of white daisies and some ladies' mantle that re-seeded from our garden.
And I just could not bring myself to pull up this plantain. Look how graceful it is!
Otherwise, it was a quiet day. We didn't even leave the house. I gave Olga the option to take a walk in the afternoon but she preferred to bask in the sun like a retired matron in Miami Beach. Maybe I should teach her mah-jongg?
Did you pull out the tiny pink and white daisies in the bottom right corner of the first picture? They're called Erigeron, or seaside daisies and are quite popular here, not a weed at all. I have several clumps growing under the roses in the garden across from "my" lawn. I would have pulled out the plantain.
ReplyDeleteAnother job well done. I want pictures of Olga learning mah jongg.
ReplyDeleteExcellent job! I have a stainless steel letter opener from my father in law which gets perfectly into the cracks between our patio stones and you can see me at regular intervals on my knees digging away. So I know how hard you must have been working!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fine way to show your respect towards Her Majesty. No street party, no thronging crowds on The Mall - just weeding your patio. I guess it's better than giving the lavatory bowl and surrounding area a deep clean. Even so, seventy years on the throne and all she gets is a patio cleaned. Jeez!
ReplyDeleteYou just like how erect the plantain leaves are.
ReplyDeleteNot as long lasting as Roundup, but boiling hot water kills off weed growth between pavers. No environmental effect, easy to do, but it must always be water just after boiling. The green goes a strange colour and just dies off and disappears.
If I had that patio, I'd plant creeping thyme between the pavers. I've always wanted to, never had the pavers. It gives off that lovely scent when you walk on it. Meanwhile, you did a great job.
ReplyDeleteYou should teach her to pull weeds instead!
ReplyDeleteWell, you did your part for the Queen by tidying up your own little part of her kingdom. It looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteA task I loathe more than weeding? Nope. But there is pleasure when it's done and everything looks so neat.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried eating young plantain leaves? They are quite delish! We hsve creeping thyme in our garden. It is most delightful, but IS a bit of a bully.
ReplyDeleteNothing like starting and completing a task tidying things up. Looks good.
ReplyDeleteLooks nice. I like how you left some things growing between the stones. Just right!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job. The patio really looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteNice job! As for leaving the "graceful" plantain, I appreciate your sense of what is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI like how you left some of the green between the pavers - it looks so casually neat, not overgrown and not too manicured. We had a lovely patio in Minnesota and I encouraged moss to grow between the pavers, watering it when the weather was too hot and dry, etc. A friend came by, saw the moss and volunteered his power washer for us to use to get rid of that "nasty algae between the pavers"! I declined the offer. To each his own.
ReplyDeleteI use to love playing Mah Jongg. I'll come play with Olga.
ReplyDeleteThere's something very satisfying about that photo of the plantain. The composition is lovely.
I think that was a perfectly lovely way to celebrate - but I'm practically a hermit. Ha! Some people find weeding meditative. I am not some people - but it's mostly because my back and knees complain. It might be too late for my knees, but I'll bet if I did back strengthening exercises that would help!
ReplyDeleteThe patio looks good. I used to plant creeping thyme between the pavers in West Seattle, and every winter it would rot from all of the rain. It was adorable when it was blooming, but eventually I gave up. How big will the plantain get?
ReplyDeleteWOW job well done, sir!! I love your sensitivities, leaving some of the loveliest plants to thrive. Your garden is a small delight every time- Olga has it right. the Jubilee does look super spreader-ish doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteGood job with the weeding. It looks great. I just watched a video clip showing Meghan & Harry at St. Pauls for one ceremony. I guess I didn't expect to see them back.
ReplyDeleteNicely done. Not excessively tidy, so a more relaxed look!
ReplyDeleteCrowds are overrated anyway.
Weeding is not my strong suit so you have my greatest admiration. Well done!
ReplyDeleteSince I hate to weed and cheat with Roundup :(, I admire your garden labor. It looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could wait around to see how you do at weeding when you're my current age (82) but I fear I shall be long gone by then. Drat!
ReplyDeleteRiver: Yes, it's Erigeron karvinskianus, and I did pull it out. (We call it Mexican fleabane.) We have lots of it in the planters around the patio but it will run wild over every surface if left on its own. Don't worry, it will be back!
ReplyDeleteMitchell: She gets so cranky now when I try to take her picture, she may not tolerate it!
Sabine: I use a paint scraper -- much less elegant than a stainless steel letter opener. (But really, who opens letters anymore?)
YP: As someone here said, I think Her Majesty would appreciate my attempts to neaten up her kingdom!
Andrew: I remember you mentioning that before. I still haven't tried it. I guess I'd rather not kill off all the critters that might be living between and beneath the stones, though who knows if they survive weeding.
Boud: Hmmmm...I should investigate that! There's a plant called "thousands and millions" or something like that that also grows between stones, though apparently it can get quite invasive. Still, we should look into it.
Ed: "Earn your keep, dog!"
Ms Moon: That's what I say! (And I think the Queen would agree.)
Bob: It can be tedious and hard on the knees!
Karen: I've never tried that! I had no idea they were edible. Now I have another reason not to tear that plant out.
Ellen: It makes a huge difference, doesn't it?
Ellen D: Yeah, I didn't want it to look TOO sterile.
Robin: Thank you!
Colette: It may not be everyone else's sense, but hey...:)
Wilma: One person's weed is another person's treasure, I suppose! Or something like that.
Kelly: I always associate mah jongg (unfairly) with South Florida retirement centers. I don't think I've ever played it but I used to find old mah jongg kits at Goodwill when I lived in Florida and they always looked so cool.
Bug: I AM in a sort of "white noise" headspace when I'm weeding. But yeah, the knees protest more and more these days.
Allison: I've never even heard of this creeping thyme idea, and you're the second person to mention it! If it didn't do well in Washington I suspect it would be the same here.
Linda Sue: Yeah, WAAAAAAY too many people for my taste. Though honestly I was happy anyone showed up. "What if we gave a jubilee and no one came?"
Sharon: They're around but apparently did not appear on the Royal Balcony. (Nor did Prince Andrew, unsurprisingly.)
GZ: Yeah, we are not precise tidy gardeners!
Jeanie: It was a chore, I tell you!
Margaret: A lot of people do. I'm just always wary of chemicals, even though they say it's safe.
Catalyst: I'd be happy to GET to that age! Insha'allah, as the muslims say.
You really did a great job on your garden. It must be so relaxing to sit out there. Hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a fine day's work. The patio looks great.
ReplyDelete