Comments on: Doing Penance

By: Cold Climate Gardening: Fifth Anniversary Interview | Cold Climate Gardening

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:06:41 +0000

[...] Doing Penance [...]

By: Nan

Nan — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 02:12:35 +0000

Love your garden writing; I feel much better after reading the post about the garden getting out of hand. Thanks!

By: ilona

ilona — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 08:49:36 +0000

How amazing – I get to jon the clone group with kerri. You described me and I was totally relating to everything you said.

Whatever the present state of my garden, I have so many good memories of times when there was a success or a beautiful moment. My occasional attempts with the camera show me that my eye edits. I tend to focus on the beauty of individual bursts of what is beautiful and block out the messy “I need work!” parts of the garden. But sometimes I can’t and that is when I do that self-loathing thing you mention. No matter what I still have fragrance and green things… and on a milk weed near my rose, I saw three monarch caterpillars! I pointed them out to a daughter and directed that no harm come to those weeds…. they are producing something wonderful and beautiful.

By: kerri

kerri — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 13:10:55 +0000

Kathy, I can so relate to everything you’ve said in this piece! I think we might be clones…right down to the back pain! It’s comforting to know we’re not alone, isn’t it? And you’re right…we shouldn’t beat ourselves up about what we DON’T accomplish! focusing on what we can get done, and rejoicing in the flowers regardless, is always best
I do hope your back pain goes away quickly! I can really empathize there!! I intend to answer your e-mail soon…really!

By: Dianne Sperling

Dianne Sperling — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 23:53:53 +0000

Phew–I’m glad I’m not the only one–August is the hardest time in the garden–everything needs dead-heading, weeding, watering.

August is the month I find that all previous plantings are out of place–the shrubs I’ve planted to provide structure are shading my few sun plants–they need to be moved fast!

I need to plan my garden for next year, I need to take my kids for physicals, to register for school.

I need, I need, I need–I need to spend time in the garden to relax between chores. I break down the garden chores into manageable pieces to manage my sanity.

By: Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 23:41:36 +0000

Jenn–the peony bed was in pretty good shape. The birthday garden was pretty much picking out all those mallow seedlings. The Juneberry bed is the first one with serious problems.

OldRoses–that’s exactly why I wrote that post, because I know I’m not the only one, but I also know it’s very easy to think that you are.

Sandy–it’s funny. I’ve been very diligent with the alternating heat and cold when I had worse back spasms, but because this one was milder, I wasn’t as diligent. Consequently I think it’s taken me as long to heal from this one as from spasms that were worse in the beginning. But I agree wholeheartedly with your advice, except I can’t vouch for the bourbon.

By: Sandy Mullins

Sandy Mullins — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 21:41:14 +0000

Alternating heat and cold, a couple of ibuprofens every 4 – 6 hours and most importantly, a relaxing couple of hours in the recliner in the evening (with a bourbon or two, if you like)is the best medicine for back spasms. Take it from a “been there, done that” gardener!

By: Oldroses

Oldroses — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 21:10:30 +0000

Phew! So glad I’m not the only one with too many beds now overgrown with weeds because life got in the way. Thanks. You made my day.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 20:55:29 +0000

Rejuvenating beds is hard work. You being on the third one is a fair accomplishment.

I have been looking around with a jaundiced eye, reinvisioning my entire property. Too much work, even on a third of an acre.

So, one border at a time.