ever onward in this thing called life

My most beloved and cherished hobbitt has adopted a new policy: spend at least 30 minutes a day weeding. I was right cheered to hear this, since I abhor weeding and some of the garden beds I dug and planted last summer are positively overrun with shotweed.

But no. He wants to use my pretty darned nice garden tool to weed the so-called lawn. God love him, he is enamored of that tool. As am I. Or would be, if I ever had a chance to use it.

Tomorrow Dave's Tree Service will be here to remove 15 red alders, most of which are in our front (south south-east) yard, close to the house. They've been dropping people-killer-sized limbs during the frequent wind storms this winter, and our gutters have taken a beating. I don't care all that much for alders, though they are nitrogen fixers, and therefore very good for the soil. But they drop all sorts of sticky and staining leaves, cones and drupes, and our driveway and front walkway will forever have rusty stains from last year's drop.

I have 10 cascara trees to plant, as well as 5 vine maples. I'm looking for native rhodies, too, and perhaps some Pacific wax myrtles for out there. We want to make a small patio out front (which right now is more private than out back) for our summer evening dominoes tourneys.

The tree committee was here Thursday to look at our request for removal. I figured with our run of luck, we'd be the first household in Kala Point to be denied removing alders (which are considered weed trees as well as widowmakers out here), but our request was approved without restriction. The committee member who stopped by with the approval paperwork even hinted we could have asked to remove more.

It's not like us to kill healthy trees. It's not like us to remove vegetation. It was a hard decision, and some of our neighbors likely think we're going for a lawn, but that's just not my style. Nevertheless, what I saw flying out of the trees this winter gave me pause; I like the mailwoman. I like the UPS and Fedex guys. And I like our skylights. And we'll soon have three or four more. So the trees had to go.

I got a call yesterday from Gary at Gardens at Four Corners. The Russian laurels I ordered are in. All 8 of them. They are about 6 feet tall each. Most of them will go out back, along Kala Point drive, to give us some privacy. I don't know how I'm going to plant them, given the fact that I'm having knee surgery in less than 8 days. But I don't care. We'll figure it out, and soon we'll have the privacy we need, and my garden will begin to take shape, and all will be well with our little world.

Okay, all is well with our little world already. All of my complaints are minor. All of our troubles are negotiable. I was recently reminded what life entails - the good and the troublesome.

So when are you going to visit?