Wind, rain, sleet, and snow. This is Spring in Iowa, even if it is the middle of April. That might have been the start of my day but it wasn't the end. Did you see the beauty of the white snow and the green grass? Did you see the daffodils huddle in the cool weather? Did the lightning stir something deep within? The awakening of a new growing season is upon us. As always, I am not fully ready. Which really must mean by now that I am as ready as I will ever be.
Let me explain the end of the day and how that last sentence fits into it all. The day ended watching Warren sing in the Spring concert at school. I also was able to go out in the halls with Flora and talk to some people while the other grades were performing. After the kids were down for the night at home, I clicked on a link to a video of the stars, clouds, trees, and flowers from on top of the highest mountain in Spain. The piano music in the background was as moving as the images if not more so. I thought of my sister who is about to have some vertebrae fused in her lower back. I about told her to Let Go and Let God. Then I remembered that she really doesn't believe in God but more in a higher power. This lead me to think about Letting Go and Letting God. As a child I came to believe that you can ask God for anything. Be sure to ask for specific things and to make sure that you really want them to happen and that they are or will be truly good for everyone. Follow this by working toward achieving what you asked for because although God can do whatever God wants, God would like you to do it as well. Thus, you can not really Let Go and Let God. Rather, I believe that you should let go of unhealthy fear by finding the real problems and working on them. Asking for help all of the time from everyone. Helping everyone, anyone, or just someone all of the time. Be thankful for everything. Again, Be Thankful For Everything. The wind, rain, sleet, and snow on a cold day in mid April. Be thankful that you could see the snow, feel the cold, hear the rain and sleet, and experience the beauty of nature.
So, I am as ready as I will every be. I am not done yet. There is more learning to do and somehow, I feel, more teaching to do. Not yet, but sometime. I am looking forward to another moment, another day, another sense...
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Spring Tasks
It is time again to think about the upcoming growing season. I have a few tasks that I do annually this time of year to help prepare for a successful growing season.
1. Sharpen my tools. Sharp tools make gardening and landscaping much more enjoyable. Have you ever noticed the difference between a dull knife and a sharp knife when you are cutting fruits, veggies, or other things in the kitchen? I certainly have. The same principal applies to your garden and landscape tools. Make sure you sharpen you pruning sheers, loppers, hedgers, shovels, and any other cutting edges that you may have. This includes lawn mower blades. If you can't or don't know how to sharpen them, you may call me and I can do it for you.
2. Clean out the garden and beds. Some of this means cutting down the 'winter interest' plants such as grasses, sedums, and others. These can be composted instead of thrown in the trash. If you cut them small enough, I recommend tilling them into your garden (just don't put in the seed-heads).
3. Perform any maintenance on power equipment. This may mean changing the oil, gas, air filters, and spark plugs. Some of these just need cleaned and replaced. You don't have to spend the money on buying a new one and filling the trash with good used parts.
4. Plan of action. Plan to do only so much each time out. Do not dive into the landscape thinking you will finish everything in one shot. It can be overwhelming and very tiring. Instead, plan on a section or one task each time out. Such as cutting back the grasses, cleaning out the leaves, mulching the beds, or weeding. Weeding now when the soil is moist and the weeds pull easy is great.
5. Mulch. Mulch. Mulch. Mulch is important to in the landscape. It serves several purposes. First, it looks nice and visually ties together the different beds and plantings. Second, it conserves moisture for the plants. Third, it reduces weeds. Fourth, mulch degrades into compost and provides some nutrients for your plants. Remember to mulch now when the plants are small or not up yet. It makes for a much easier job. You can also put down corn gluten meal before the mulch. This works not only as a fertilizer but also as a pre-emergent. Best of all, it is all natural and safe for everyone!
1. Sharpen my tools. Sharp tools make gardening and landscaping much more enjoyable. Have you ever noticed the difference between a dull knife and a sharp knife when you are cutting fruits, veggies, or other things in the kitchen? I certainly have. The same principal applies to your garden and landscape tools. Make sure you sharpen you pruning sheers, loppers, hedgers, shovels, and any other cutting edges that you may have. This includes lawn mower blades. If you can't or don't know how to sharpen them, you may call me and I can do it for you.
2. Clean out the garden and beds. Some of this means cutting down the 'winter interest' plants such as grasses, sedums, and others. These can be composted instead of thrown in the trash. If you cut them small enough, I recommend tilling them into your garden (just don't put in the seed-heads).
3. Perform any maintenance on power equipment. This may mean changing the oil, gas, air filters, and spark plugs. Some of these just need cleaned and replaced. You don't have to spend the money on buying a new one and filling the trash with good used parts.
4. Plan of action. Plan to do only so much each time out. Do not dive into the landscape thinking you will finish everything in one shot. It can be overwhelming and very tiring. Instead, plan on a section or one task each time out. Such as cutting back the grasses, cleaning out the leaves, mulching the beds, or weeding. Weeding now when the soil is moist and the weeds pull easy is great.
5. Mulch. Mulch. Mulch. Mulch is important to in the landscape. It serves several purposes. First, it looks nice and visually ties together the different beds and plantings. Second, it conserves moisture for the plants. Third, it reduces weeds. Fourth, mulch degrades into compost and provides some nutrients for your plants. Remember to mulch now when the plants are small or not up yet. It makes for a much easier job. You can also put down corn gluten meal before the mulch. This works not only as a fertilizer but also as a pre-emergent. Best of all, it is all natural and safe for everyone!
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