Hello mary lu! Nice to see you again. Congrats on your impending retirement - you'll love it. Sounds like you have your garden in order and ready to enjoy. I remember your roses - wonderful.

I know what you mean about slowing down some, I am too, trying to take time to sit more; but it's difficult to do after so many years. I'm even toying with the idea of an outdoor bed (for me, not flowers) in the orchard! ha. Still lots of weeds and trees and shrubs growing older, needing pruning and cutting back. That's what I wish I had help with. Last month I was reaching up with loppers to trim a service berry, across my shoulders it hurt so bad a couple days later and I could barely use my right arm for two, maybe three weeks. ugh.

I'm heading out here in a few minutes to cut the spent iris stalks and maybe trim up the teapot and teacup topiaries. That's all I have planned for today - I hope!

Hi Mary lu, so glad to see you back again, looking forward to pics of your beautiful garden. I now have a "Lespedeza", after falling in love with yours I just had to have one. It's finally coming into it's own although I do pinch it back once early in the season to make it bushier. Talk about slowing down, I'm fast approaching snail pace but I'm still out there finding spots for new plants and trying new things.
Annette

Hi, Mary Lu. Welcome back, even if it is to a forum that isn't quite what it used to be. I've always enjoyed your posts and pics, and look forward to more.

TM

Schoolhouse, Yes the body sometimes protests loudy after a stint of gardening! I am lucky in that now that DH is retired he has taken over pruning the fence. Of course he bought a new toy/tool to use to do it. :-)

Annette, oh I hope you like your bush clover! Mine took a hit the winter before last and was pretty sparse last year. But this year it seems to be recovering.

TM, yes I have noticed that there are not nearly as many posters now as there used to be. So many gone missing. I pop in but really don't have much new to "report". The gardens haven't changed much, now it is more about maintaining them.

It is so nice to see some familiar faces! I do enjoy hearing what everone is up to in their gardens.

Today I spent the afternoon making 4 batches of strawberry freezer jam and then went out in our 95 degree heat and picked another heaping ice cream pail full. Guess I know what I will be doing after work tomorrow!!

Mary lu, I make freezer jam too although we both love freezer raspberry jam DH doesn't care for strawberry done that way so I make the cooked recipe and then freeze it LOL, freezer jam seems to keep that fresh taste so much longer.
I was thoroughly ticked off earlier this evening, once again someone came in and stole a plant out of one of the borders in the front yard. We went out for dinner and when I got out of the truck I went over to see if my newly planted piece of "Cobham Gold" (shasta daisy) needed a bit of water, all I found was a hole where I had planted it. This is one Leucanthemum that apparently is on the red list or so I was told. I'd had a lovely clump in this spot for several years but the early freeze and then very wet winter did a number on it, I was lucky to be able to salvage a few pieces which I nursed along in the greenhouse. One of the pieces recovered quickly so I planted it back out last month. I don't know when it was taken but it was there 2 days ago. This is why my main garden is in back behind a 6 foot fence, gates opened only from the inside. I guess I'll have to resort to only planting things out there that are hard to dig up. It really is unbelievable what some people will do. There I feel better, my rant is over but I can tell you the air was blue for more than a few minutes.

And yes, I'm loving my bush clover last year it was still on the small size but put on a good show, this year it will be even lovelier. I pinched it back to make it a little bushier and it's in a spot where it can do it's own thing.
Annette

Oh, Annette. That is just awful! You would think that other gardeners would understand how much you have invested in those plants. But, clearly that person doesn't know the satisfaction of investing in anything. Just takes what they want. I don't blame you for ranting. I hope Mary Lu doesn't mind being side-tracked.

Martha

I don't mind at all. I too am sorry to hear about your plant loss. I just can't understand the mentality of someone thinking it is ok to steal plants from someone elses garden. I know I would be furious!

Annette - My sympathies - I've had plants and produce taken from the garden and it always leaves me shocked and saddened.

Mary Lu - I've always enjoyed photos of your gardens. Your photos were what first made me realize how a garden can be transformed in spirit by hardscape to form a frame for the plants. And I love your house! Enjoy your retirement when it arrives. I left a previous job for a part time position with flexible hours 7 years ago and love having the time to spend in the garden and enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle.

Hi marylou,glad to see you back,and that you retired,how cool is that?? Loved seeing your gardens in the past,and hope to see them again soon.I also don't come here very much any longer,i just don't like it as well as the old G.W.I need to find a new place to hangout,facebook???

Annette,sorry about your loss,and i know how you feel,as it's happened to me as well,not just plants,but some of my garden art as well.Hope those who steal from us come in contact with a brutal cactus someday.LOL

Kathi