Gardening with a One Arm'd Gardener

Four weeks post-op, physical therapy three times a week, arm pendulums and stretches at home, extremely ugly hot black brace on whenever I am away from the comforts of my daily surroundings (which means most all the time), but still I NEED TO GARDEN! Yesterday was the first day I attempted to actually dig a hole and plant something. Four big passions in my life, children and husband don’t count, are reading, writing, gardening and riding my bike. Reading has saved many a day this last four weeks, writing – while difficult by hand (I am left handed/ as was the shoulder that was repaired) has been ok on the computer. I knew there wouldn’t be any bike riding in my summer plans, but I didn’t know how long it would be for me to get a trowel back in my hand. Turns out – four weeks! Today I planted some more pink creeping baby’s breath around the purple iceberg roses, the one I put in last year has taken off like gangbusters, planted up some Art Deco zinnia seeds in honor of my dear friend Linny who passed away in March, filled a couple containers with soil in prep for some herbs later this week, pruned back a Russian sage – no pruners involved, just break the brittle growth from last year, and cleaned out some pots to get them ready for color soon.  

My garden, like yours I’m hope, is just starting to take on the lovely Late Spring Burst. The early flowering shrubs have finished up weeks ago, and the crabapples are now filled with shiny leafs, but the true joy of most gardeners is just now taking center stage from its position in the wings – the perennial beds are waking up and are all set for center stage.  Pink Salvias, Agastache, Valerian, Mallow, and Guara – all covered with immense buds just waiting for a little bit more warm weather, and then curtains up – the show begins.  I will sit on the deck the next few weeks and watch as the story unfolds in the beds and plan out what to put where when I get full use of my shovel shoulders back. You can’t keep a gardener down, for long.

My Mama dove from last year returned to the same hanging basket on the front porch (at least I like to think she is the same one), it will be another four weeks before I can fill this one with flowers.

 This is the year I just know it - the wisteria that we planted around the pergola will finally take over the top

 Took the wall-o-water off the little 4" starter tomato plant I put in on April 1st, just in time for the 60mph winds yesterday. But it looks ok this morning, and there are 2 tomatoes waiting for me.

  Salvia is amazing, evergreen all winter, the buds are about 1 1/2" across, can't wait to see them bloom.This variety is bright pink.

 Mike choose Art Deco Zinnia seeds to pass out at Linny's Celebration of Life. I know they will be just as beautiful as she was, and I will save and re-plant the seeds from the flowers every year in her memory.

 Vinca major - Big Leaf Periwinkle, showing this in case you are thinking of a ground cover for an eastern exposure, full sun until about 1pm. Now it is about 2' high, re-roots itself like crazy and has little purple flowers all summer. This path up to the front door is about 20' long and it took three years from one little start to cover all of it. Worth the wait.

  yep, aphids on the pink lemonade honeysuckle,(lonicera heckrotti 'Pink Lemonade') nothing that a quick blast of water won't cure

Planted this from one little 3.5 pot last year, it has taken off so beautifully and is absolutely covered in pink flowers all summer and late into fall

the new creeping pink baby's breath that I just planted, with 1 arm!!!