Man am I out of Shape!

I have spent the last few days cleaning up the gardens in preparation for a marathon mulching session this Friday, which I am attempting to undertake on my own. Six yards of mulch doesn't sound like a lot until you have shoveled it off the back of a truck all day. It will require several trips to the farm down the road and lots and lots of effort. I'm fearing that I may require even more mulch than usual because I am remulching the 30 year old Rhododendrons in the front yard. They add so much acidity to the soil that nothing really grows under them, but all the dead leaves and random weeds have been accumulating for about five years now. I spent this morning raking and shoveling all the debris out. Five wheelbarrow loads later, it's finally ready to be dressed! I'll post a picture of them when they bloom, they truly are awesome.

I worked in a garden center for three years toting 70 pound trees and shrubs, shoveling mulch daily and bagging rocks. I used to be in fantastic gardening shape, but a winter of inactivity has everything aching. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, and oddly enough, I hope it does. Shoveling is hot work and a little rain goes a long way in cooling you off. Even with all the aches and pains, I have to say that I love working outside.

Digging in the dirt is the most rewarding job to me. I just love seeing green things come out of the ground, and seeing plants re-seed on their own. I love it when you prune the hell out of something and it comes back bigger and better the next year. My shade garden has finally reached the point I had planned for 5 years ago. Gardening is a study in patience. You plant small plants knowing that they aren't going to look good for about three year, but then you realize that it's ok, you can wait for it. Why? Because it's worth it.