My Summer Workout Program II

Oh, your back again. Come to see my progress, have ya? Well step right inside. You'll remember your first tour here. Good. Lets get started then.
Feel free to walk on the path. I have always wanted to do a stone path like this. I think they make a garden feel very cozy. I also love the contrast, when you walk barefoot, between the hot stones and the cool grass. These stones came from the creek that runs by my parents house. So they have some sentimental value to me. I spent about half of my childhood roaming up and down that creek. This little project isn't done yet. The path will eventually go all the way around the front of the house.

The path had to be put on hold because I had to get some of the plants I bought (at bargain basement prices) in the ground. They were starting to suffer. I know it a little hard to see but this is my very first planted garden. What a workout this was too. It features an Evan Bali cherry tree, a grouping of very heavy pots, and assorted perennials.(Daisies, Black Eyed Susans, Cone Flower, Soon to be joined by daylilies and a few others) And One heck of a lot of mulch. We get it by the scoop from a local place. And haul it off of the truck with shovels. Fun times. Let me tell you.
Speaking of mulch, lets just talk about edging for a moment. That is by far the biggest workout of the little summer project for me. This is what it looking like before it's edged. See how sloppy those edges are. That's cardboard underneath.
This is after. You take a small spade and make a V in the dirt then back fill it with mulch. The grass won't get in your garden as easily this way. At least this is what I hope. That is what my local expert tells me. BTW, this is the view from my dining room window right now. It's really come a long way. But there is so much left to do this year.
Hey, like that bench? Free. One of my neighbors gave it to me. It just needs a little TLC. This garden is on a budget after all.
Next I tackle this.

See ya in about a month.

My Summer Workout Program

I'm going to let you in a little secret. Ready. I hate the gym. Hate. It. Sweaty people. Boring exercise. Dirty equipment. I just don't like it. I must have fresh air. So I have always walked for exercise. It was a nice arrangement. I load my 70+ lbs of kids in to my jogging stroller and pushed them all over our hilly little town. When I say hilly I really mean it. We are at the foot of the Adirondacks here. It was a workout. And a fun one too. This spring though Mark started wanting to walk himself. That did two things to my workout. 1. He walks at a snail's pace. He tries. But he is easily distracted by trees, rocks, birds, turtles, snakes, cars, trucks, street signs. You name it and it will slow him down. And 2. He is 50 of the 70+ lbs. And just pushing Anna is not a workout at all. She's a peanut. We still go just about every day but at a far more leisurely pace than before. It doesn't really get my heart going.
So I had to think of something. Sooooo welcome to my summer gym. Better than 24 Hour Fitness, Golds Gym, and Curves all rolled into one. I will tell you this digging holes is a full body workout. Especially when you consider our ground here is quite wet. And heavy. Most of the tree I got were in 5 gallon pots.
What is this I hear? You would like a tour of my workout room. Well OK, please step inside. Watch your step. This little guy got the singular distinction of being the very first thing in the ground. It is also the only thing to date that Jason and I planted together. I talked to him (A Bird's Nest Spruce) though and he says he is up to the challenge of meeting and greeting each of the other inhabitants as they arrive.
This is a Weeping Crap Apple tree. And I might add it was in a 5 gallon pot. The hole for it was 4 feet around. I did it as a thunderstorm was rolling in. It was little like doing sprints but dangerous. And fun.
Do you want a final look? Well, it isn't much to look at right now. It will have a far bigger visual impact once the leaves come out and we add mulch. By. The Truckload.

Next I am putting in a stone path with grass around it right through the center. My thighs are already burning from that project. And I haven't even started it yet. I am so excited to get it underway.

I will be back with a more thorough tour once the leaves come out a little more. This garden isn't going to be just pretty. We planted some nice fruit trees too. In about 5 years I hope to be have fruit by the truckload. So this space will be an ongoing workout room and snack shack as well.