Dawn Brocco's Life & Design Blog

Finally began doing some raking around here. Hubby has had no time to tackle any of it and, until recently, I haven't been able to. But an hour is about all I can do per day, before the tendonitis acts up, but at only an hour a day, and maybe not every day, as weather tends to conspire against all outdoor plans, it could take me well over a month to get it all done! So, well see how far I get.

I also cut back a stupid-looking bush that previous owners planted in an inconvenient place. It put out small, white, unscented flowers in spring, but otherwise doesn't have the nicest form and whose canes get in the way of walking from the driveway to the back path to the kitchen. I should dig it up in the spring.

I also cut back all the peonies, as needs doing every autumn after they've completely died back. I had wanted to do more subdividing of some of the larger, older bushes and transplant them along the driveway border, as I've begun doing a few years back. I don't know if I'll get to it though. Sometimes the mood will strike me to do such things, other times, I could care less.

I'm not particularly crazy about peonies. They look OK, but I can't stand the scent and won't cut them for fresh flowers for the house. They do Ok in the part shade of the driveway, though, and that's why I began dividing them and transplanting, as my azaleas didn't take well there, even though they are supposed to like the shade and the acid soil they certainly get with the pines hovering overhead.

I much prefer the smell of lilacs, and roses and even lily of the valley, though one needs a lot of pips to get enough flowers for vases. They dry well, though.

In the next house, I'd like to have more sunny areas for my gardens. I'm not really fond of the woodland, shady look, I much prefer all the flowering, scented plants that require sun.

Been working on the next Gazette issue every day, but was feeling lazy last night and did hardly any knitting on the Peace Fleece cardigan. So, I'm gonna get some done today, in between the laundry, while watching Chef Inspector Morse. It's not Sunday without the mystery movies!