You are pretty young. Do you have good shoes? I thought I had good shoes but my daughter bought me some Brooks running shoes for Christmas and I found they were so much more supportive they gave me energy. I can really do more with good shoes. My old shoes are a joke in comparison.

Maybe you should have a check up with your doctor. Are you doing aerobic exercise? Oh, you said you don't poop out with exercise.

I used to only walk 1/3 mile and was huffing and puffing. My daughter pushed us to walk more and after awhile it got easier and we had more energy. Losing a little weight, even a very little bit, can make a difference. Sugar and eating lots of carbs can make you feel tired.

I am almost 72 and in my garden I may not move quite as fast but I work outside all day quite often. I no longer unload truckloads of compost . But I dig, and do a lot of work. I think my garden is the main thing that keeps me a bit more fit. But I like to put my feet up around 2 pm for awhile and spend some time with my dogs...they like to be on the same level.

I think you working 3 hrs at a time is pretty good. If you need to move slower that is ok...it might keep you from a fall. Hope you stay hydrated as well. You may be right that it's pollen. Wearing a hat can be helpful .

You have some good thoughts. I have my yearly physical scheduled next month. I do exercise regularly -- I try to do something every day even if it's only walking 1-2 miles on my lunch break if I can't do a full 1-1.5 hrs walking or biking. I wear a hat because I don't like my head/face exposed to the sun, it's one of those ones with the "cape" down the back so my neck doesn't get sun. I wear Muck boots -- surprisingly comfortable, although I wouldn't say supportive. 3 hrs at a time doesn't seem like much to me at all -- used to be able to do 8-9 hrs no problem with few breaks and at break-neck speed...

mxk3: I feel ya! I'm 57, and have noticed the same the last few years with the past two being the worst. I used to be able to be out there from dawn until dark. Not anymore. I get so frustrated because I have so much to do and so little energy compared to several years ago. Last week I took off two days with my regular two days off to get things done in the garden. I spent more time recuperating in my time off than working! (Sigh)

Yep, in my early 50s I noticed slowing, in my mid 50s (now), I really notice it. I'm also less well-balanced (as in crossing streams on slippery rocks and less sure of my balance).

I don't think I really started to slow down until I was in my early 70s. Now at 78, I'm glad I have a much smaller garden. But I do exercises to keep my core and arms and back strong and also stretching exercises, especially through the winter. I used to be able to squat for a long period, but can no longer do that, so I'm bending more.

Ah, I definitely went through a menopausal change, mxk3 at about the same age. A coupla years of HRT saved my remaining hair from falling out and I got through the hot nights and mad flushes with a fair bit of sweary moaning... I don't think you should see this as an inevitable slide into old age and loss of vigour - just another life-stage. Gardening does a lot for our health and happiness and mostly, because we spend so much time projecting into the future, it gives us hope and optimism - gifts which will keep us going even when our physical strength declines a little.

Grief, apols for sugary waffling....Hope it doesn't sound too glib.

In truth, my first coupla hours in the garden are truly dynamic, the next one a bit more dithery and any time after that is spent drifting around witlessly, occasionally pulling a wild oat or snipping at something. I can hang it out for hours (cos I can make tea in the shed and usually have a tin of biscuits to fall back on) but honestly,after the first (short) flush of energy I may as well be lying on the sofa at home...although I always like to be outside. It has always been pretty consistent so not sure it is age related, just having a scattered attention span and an endless list of to-dos (most of which will be forgotten, bodged or relegated to some future time).

I think it is usually more to do with mental state rather than physical ability. Depends on how much I am enjoying doing something - and isn't very consistent - somedays, I love the mindless relaxation of hand-weeding - others I am bored to tears after 30 minutes.

I am 67. Am hopeless about any sort of exercise but I do ride my bike and do a fair bit of nana duty.

Obviously, everyone is different but mid fifties does seem young to need to lie down after 3 hours in the garden. Have you tried varying the tasks so, for example, you do some digging then a job which is easier, like pruning or seed sowing? Rather than doing one activity for an extended period.

It's supposed to rain later today and tomorrow, if I perk up then I'll know yesterday's bout of fatigue was related to allergies more than anything else. Which will definitely put my mind at ease.

It hit me at 60. Wanted to deny it, but no such luck. Working until dark like the energiser bunny no longer happens...Im done about dinner time now. I learned it was my limit, or else it takes too long to recover lol. A Plus is.... I can still get a few things done inside!

It was a hard pill to swallow.....

Somewhere in my mid 60's.......about the same time I broke my ankle. Took several months to become properly mobile again but I never quite got back to the level of gardening activity I enjoyed before. And it's continued to decline ever since 😒

Mostly it is my endurance - or lack of it. Takes 2-3 times longer to do even simple gardening chores and I poop out after 3-4 hours and am done for the day.

I am also more inclined to ask for help now to do any serious pruning (won't do ladders), to dig up larger, established plants and to move anything heavy.

It's been a gradual process for me. Now, at 73, I no longer do marathon gardening sessions no matter how badly I want to. Arthritis presents challenges, but still, I love working in my garden.

A few years ago I attended a lecture by a physical therapist on gardening as we age. She had some good suggestions: Alternate tasks during each gardening session -- 30 minutes weeding, 30 minutes deadheading, 30 minutes raking, etc. This prevents stressing any one muscle group. Take breaks about every hour. Limit the time of each gardening session -- no marathons. Focus on specific areas of the garden and let other areas go.

I've simplified my landscape to reduce needed maintenance. I replaced some weed-prone perennial beds with shrubs and groundcovers. I focus my efforts on the backyard -- the front and side yards are neat but very basic. For the past few years I've had a guy mow and edge my lawn because it's on a slope (too risky for my aging bones) and it frees up my gardening time for work I actually enjoy. He occasionally helps with the heavy stuff -- just yesterday I had him dig out several mite-infested shrubs that were too much for me.

I never thought I'd see the day where I'd have to pay someone to help me garden. But none of us will get any younger and if we're really lucky we'll all be old one day. I've come to the conclusion that adaptation is the way to go . . . one foot in front of the other. My next move will probably be to a condo but you can be sure it will have a balcony or deck where I can grow some plants and play in the dirt.

Mxk3 - It is odd that you poop out with gardening but not other things. A couple of thoughts on that is one allergies have to be draining, especially if they are getting worse than they used to. I keep hearing that pollen is starting earlier and staying longer. The other thought is, early in the season we’ve all been short on Vitamin D and that could cause a lower energy level. Do you gain ground as you get used to gardening for a new season? Or over the winter, do you normally do an exercise routine to prepare for the gardening season?

I would not say it is age. Actually, I can’t help but wonder if too many people make it a self fufilling idea. I know my Mom worked until she was 83 years old going up and down 3 flights of stairs all day and she had more energy then I had and I was in my 50s…lol. And I know of a couple in their 80s, still doing all their own gardening, ripping out shrubs and digging beds, carrying heavy items.

Recently, I’ve been reminded that what you are in the habit of doing, you can normally continue to do. My Mom’s favorite saying was ‘Use it or lose it.’

I think it is easier to lose muscle mass as we get older. Easier to sleep less at night. It takes more effort to stay in shape and take care of ourselves, but I think it can be done if we are healthy.

Aerobic exercise is another important aspect of keeping our energy up. A lot of people think if they are walking on a treadmill every day that is enough exercise, but if you can train aerobically, I think you can reach another level. I wish I were in my mid 50s again….lol.

Yes age can have a negative effect, but you can forestall it and slow it down by being more aggressive with working at staying young and fit. Of course, a physical check up to see how much you can push yourself is important. And if you really were serious about being able to stay as fit as possible for as long as possible, a professional trainer that specializes in seniors might be worthwhile considering.

I agree with Erasmus - my gardening is a major part of keeping me going physically. And what RosaPrimula said about how projecting into the future is so good for us to keep our optimism and motivation high.

Should you expect to be able to do 8hr days at break neck speed in the garden? Some people in their 20s can’t do that…lol. Has something changed since you used to do that, besides your age?

Has anyone noticed a boost from caffeine? [g] Seriously, I’ve been experimenting with days without chocolate and days with…and I am more energetic, more focused, and in a better mood when I have chocolate. LoL

People who retire because they think that when they reach a certain age, they should. Or stop doing what they’ve always done because it’s not as easy as it once was, I think are selling themselves short. But that is a generalization, we’re all individuals and age at our own rate. I just say fight it until they pry the shovel out of your hand…lol.

Yeah, I agree with prairiemoon ..fight it. Sometimes if I have a moment of feeling old while gardening I say to myself, " Do you need to realize you're old?" and then I quit thinking that and forget about it and go about my business. There's some saying about what you give your attention to multiplies.

At your age I think you should banish these thoughts of decline. YOu'll probably figure out whatever it is. Sounds to me like you are pretty athletic anyway...more so than me.

Prairiemoon, I limit my caffeine as I have trouble sleeping sometimes and am very sensitive to caffeine. I was having a lot of heart rythm problems so cut my strong morning coffee to half decaffeinated. Then I went back to full strength, but I only have one cup a day. I do love chocolate...maybe that's what's keeping me awake at night! Have been eating more than usual of some dark chocolate bark with sea salt .

I bought some magnesium which may have helped with my heart rythm problem and also seems to help with sleep and relaxes blood vessels. I can't say for sure that it has helped but it seems to have.

3 hours of gardening isn't bad. I wouldn't worry about being tired after that. Even when in my 20s I would be tired after cutting the lawn for 2 hours.

This weekend I planted maybe 50 annuals/bulbs and then cut the lawn. I sat in my hammock in the shade, drank a few beers and fell sleep. I was exhausted.

Have you tried antihistimines?

I’m 68..moved here when I just turned 50..I’ve worked really hard the entire time I’ve lived here..I do have more pain in the last 3?4? years..I take breaks now..or sometimes stop before dark..I use my wagon more..as einportlandor mentioned I alternate tasks..a neighbor in back (5 years older) said to me..

”you work in a random way”..at the time I was insulted..I wanted to say ”as compared to you staying on task on your phone for hours on end”..but I didn’t..Lol

my parents lived in their own home until the end..married 67 years..Mom passed first at 87 (Nov 2020) Dad passed at 91 (Nov 2021)..Dad walked every day..he told me ”it hurts when I walk but it hurts more if I don’t”..

I love working outside but I do push myself..

I think I’m healthier because I garden..

Erasmus - I am fighting with chocolate in the past 6 months. I did go 3 months without any and that was not easy for the first 2 weeks but after that I adapted and I think I was sleeping better. I think I’m also sensitive to caffeine so I rarely drink coffee or black tea. But chocolate is my last food indiscretion. [g] I’m working on whether I need to give it up entirely or just modify how much and when I have it. This week I’m working on every other day just before 10am. Definitely dark chocolate!

We all need enough magnesium, I am trying to include more foods with magnesium in them.

Nicholsworth - Sorry about the loss of your parents. 67 years together!! Amazing!

prairiemoon..thank you..our family was very blessed to have both parents so long..🙂

When I say, " fight it" I don't mean to impose it and I only mean it as fighting worry and fighting the sense that all decline is inevitable. I mean it in a positive way such as finding things that help and strengthen . Like I found good shoes very helpful. People have their very good reasons for not pushing themselves too much and really one's choices don't have much to do with what a bunch of people on the internet are doing. But we can say we've been there too, and we can share what we do. I think it is possible to talk yourself into feeling old.

Chocolate does seem to lead to more chocolate. There are many months when I can eat one little wrapped up piece of chocolate per day. Right now it's more like four or five per day.

My mom lived to be 88 but I think she may well have lived another ten years or more if she hadn't had emergency surgery and then had a nurse damage her leg with a cuff thing which prevented her from walking. She was recovering and walking. Thn couldn't walk, got pneumonia and died three weeks later. My dad lived to be 90. My mom was very zippy and exercised almost every day of her life.

I think I’m healthier because I garden..

Simple, to the point and for sure correct @nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis.

rouge21_gw..for me in addition to the physical benefits there are emotional benefits too..

gardening makes me happy..🙂

For sure @nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis. IMO physical and emotional health are very much intertwined.

I'm right there with you, except, I decided it meant I needed to get in shape. Or, I'm out of practice. I used to go and go all day long and it never phased me.

I'm 69 and still going hell for leather.

It is my nature to work myself to the very bone to the point that I nearly have to crawl indoors at the end of the day. I pre-cook batch meals so I don't even have to cook when I come inside. I will do that for 3-4 days in a row then take a couple of days off for my hands to recover- I have career related repetitive use issues with weeding hard for days on end.

I have always been this way about everything- I have two speeds, 0 mph or 100 mph.

I will say that the first couple of weeks each spring are the roughest- after that I acclimate to the work and it doesn't hurt as badly, but that first 2-3 weeks is hard.

I do spend most of the winter working out purely so I can garden as hard as I want to- I even took up running at age 57 and that has paid off big time as far as endurance- my back starts to ache long before I get really tired. I have no issue stopping and stretching in my back yard- sometimes just lying flat for five minutes helps a lot.

Fortunately I do not have many other demands on my time- I can work longer if I feel like it or take days off if I need to, so I tend to go day to day based on how my body feels.

My garden is my happy place. The fact that it challenges me physically is half of why it keeps me healthy, and the other half is the mental benefits of playing outdoors in dirt all day.

I actually look at other retired people's houses with no gardens and wonder what they actually do all day- I'd be bored to death indoors- how much can you clean?

Here's me in 1958- I'm a bit taller now but I'm still mesmerized by the garden.

cearbhaill..I love your description of yourself!..

I’m actually pretty similar..you’re much better with meal preparation and exercise!!!..I admire that..

I never analyzed it..but I agree at first spring is more painful than summer and fall..

gardening is hard on my hands too..sometimes it’s hard for me to make a fist..

you gave me a tip..instead of just stopping and sitting a minute I’m going to go in and stretch in my recliner..

agree that living indoors would be miserable for me..my heart hurts for people that aren’t physically able to go outside..

your childhood photo is adorable..

Erasmus - Truer words were never spoken, Chocolate leads to more chocolate. [g] My mother loved Kit Kat bars for some odd reason but she would eat a half a bar a day and stop. She definitely had a knack of keeping things in balance.

Cearbhaill - Look at that photo! lol You had someone with enough time and love to put braids in your hair! Such a lucky girl! And a garden to grow up with. Wonderful that you loved it, not everyone that has access does.

How are you today, mxk3? Are you cheered or miffed? Are you usually more energetic and motivated or do you have an intense love for your pillow and a comfy chair? Cearbhaill - I also have 2 speeds - 0mph or about 10mph (it's actually kilometres, so even worse). I am a believer in creative idling (sitting on the sofa, vaguely thinking). If we have been an allocated a certain amount in the energy bank, I am going to last a long time before I get overdrawn. Idling, slacking, loafing, skiving, work avoidance are underrated skills in this era of power breakfasts, lunch at our desks, long hours and hideous 'energy drinks.I often look back in amazement, at the childcare years (relentless toil) and wonder how I managed it all.

Cos I have been self-employed for a long time, I am lucky enough to have some choice regarding working hours. So I am generally impoverished because I do just enough to pay the bills then down tools. My school reports were unvaried, year after year 'Has promise but lacks ambition'.'

LOL!! A person after my own heart! And I thought I was the master at do nothing and procrastination :-) I am certainly getting better and better at it as years go by.

It may be worse in winter as I have no interest in tending to indoor chores, the weather keeps me mostly indoors and not many design clients at that time of year. I can waste a LOT of time!!

When spring firmly descends, it's a struggle weighing the economic benefits of taking on a new client versus leisurely putzing around outside.....and leaving sufficient time to waste as I see fit. Indoor chores still don't appeal but I do make a few early morning efforts to keep things in order. And I have even more of a distraction from getting anything done with the new puppy in my life. He has convinced me - and I didn't take much persuading - that he requires my attention pretty much all the time he isn't snoozing. We often do an afterlunch nap together. 😑 I am training him well.

OMG a new puppy - almost as knackering as having a 2year old.

After lunch naps - one of the very best imports from hotter countries - siesta. So civilised.

"Alternate tasks during each gardening session -- 30 minutes weeding, 30 minutes deadheading, 30 minutes raking, etc."

I thought about this all night and here's why that won't work for me:

30 minutes of anything is not long enough to warrant dragging out the tools. I take a bucket or a cart of tools with me and go to work out back. I have a huge yard and it's quite the hike back to the garage for different tools.

If I change tasks that requires a different set of tools, and I must put the first set away.

I have to put them away, otherwise at the end of the day I have to go on a hike to retrieve all of my tools, and I will be too exhausted to do that, won't find half of them, and will step on the other half barefoot the next day.

I have to pickup tools as I go- when I crash, I crash hard and wandering around picking up tools is not happening- and back to my house is uphill, dammit!!

If I load the cart up with every tool I own I will not be able to get it back uphill.

Plus, spring is crunch time. I have to get one round of weeding in before the mulch goes down. I go over every inch of every bed by hand and it usually takes me a minimum of one month per round. If I waste time fooling around with easier tasks the weeds don't stop growing or seeding out and I can't let that happen. So it's full speed ahead on the task at hand until the first round is done and the mulch down. Then I can wander around doing ladylike gardening deadheading flowers, lol.

If I get on a roll weeding I can go for 6 hours, but when I am done I am well and truly finished.

I'm 69 and this is just the way I work- I have tried all my life to be moderate in various areas and that is just not me.

I truly admire that other people can pace themselves and not fall over exhausted at the end of the day. I just can't seem to manage that.

It's like evening gardening- it is lovely, shady, cool, and low humidity out there in the evenings. I have tried for 16 years now to garden in the evenings but cannot do it. I am an early morning worker and by evenings all I want to do is sit and admire my work with my shower behind me and a cold drink in my hand. If I wait until evening it won't get done.

Do the rest of y'all garden in the evenings?

Cearbhaill - I considered at one point, putting together a contraption that would allow me to take all the tools I’d need for each job with me all over the yard. I was going to attach a rubbish barrel to a hand cart with bungeecords and put all the long handled tools in there and rig up something else to carry everything else. I suppose a wheel barrow or one of those rolling carts accomplishes the same thing. In the end, I have a small property and it seemed like too much trouble.

I prefer to choose an area to work in and do everything needed there to the finish and then move on to the next area. Rarely works out that way. Timing has to take priority, but eventually, I can get the urgent tasks done and then go back to each area and finish it up. It’s the same way I like to clean the house - one room at a time.

It makes a difference to have a large property vs a small one.

Do you use cardboard under your mulch? I collect as many boxes as I can in the basement all winter and then we use that under the mulch. It really cuts down on weeding for quite awhile before the cardboard breaks down. At least a season, sometimes two.

I rarely garden in the evening. I’m also a morning person and the earlier the better. And really a lot of the time either it’s still too warm or there are mosquitoes coming out. I’m also too tired by then to keep it up. I do like to putter after dinner and maybe deadhead here and there, after I’ve had a break and a meal. But I don’t call that working…lol.

prairiemoon, i agree with using cardboard under mulch. i find it lasts several years.

It sounds like I am not the only Senior in this group. I have definitely slowed down at 66. Not sure exactly when it started, but these days I'm good for about 4 or 5 hours tops, then it's time to shower, think about what's for dinner and have a cold drink. I am nearing retirement and am looking forward to being able to spend more days in the garden, but realize I really need to pace myself, especially if I want to do this 3 or 4 (or more) days a week. Sometimes my joints are good, and then out of nowhere the ankle says lay down buddie, or my hands get achey and it's time to take a break.

@porkchop_z5b_MI Is it possible gardening is not as enjoyable as it used to be? Do you get excited about getting out? Or is it a chore? Maybe you need some new plants? :0) Whatever it is be good to yourself and do what you can.

I have never been a marathoner. I'm very slow in the garden and have to stretch lots but always have. I really like the idea of exercising year-round to keep the muscles needed for it. I think that you probably expend less energy if you build the muscles over time.

I am not very good at weightlifting but I really think that that's an important one and I'm trying to incorporate that. Just so I can keep my snails pace gardening going forever :-)

I was looking of course down that rabbit hole of garden carts and I really like the rowlanson's garden cart.

Although I understand what some people are saying about accepting your physical reality I do think that we should while not rail against the night at least put up some kind of a fight. :-).

I've been travelling for work the last few days so just now getting to responding.

I think it was my allergies that knocked me on my rear last weekend when I originally posted. And dum-dum me without even thinking washed the bedding then flung open the windows in the bedroom to get some fresh air -- so basically I had my head rolling around in a pillow of pollen for a couple of nights. :0( A couple rainy days, another round of washing the bedding, and travelling to an area with low pollen count and I'm feeling better. That and the oral, nasal, and ocular medications I take for allergies... Still dragging a little, but better. It's a great day to weed with the recent rain, I'm going to work on that this afternoon and see how I feel. I do have an annual physical coming up in a few weeks, the tree pollen count should be much lower by then, so if I'm still feeling wiped out then I'll mention it to the doctor.

Even if I don't feel wiped out, I can't do marathon sessions anymore, and I do move more slowly than I used to -- but not so slowly I don't get anything done. I've found that I've needed to start breaking up large chores into smaller chunks, like I'll set a goal for myself of an hour a day after work to do X. That helps things not feel too overwhelming and like I *have* to spend all my free time working in the garden. I enjoy it, but I enjoy a lot of other things too, and I used to feel like I worked all week then worked all weekend in the garden, no time to enjoy other things. So, while slowing down physically and my hand/wrist injury played a large part in self-imposing gardening time limits on myself I find myself mentally benefitting from it in that I'm not so stressed out with all the other things I wanted to or needed to do that were neglected because I spent all my free time working on the garden. In other words, I'm much better at balancing my time and I'm much more relaxed because of it.

Putzing around doesn't count... :ob

gg: Cute puppy!!

One thing different I'm doing is if there's any heavy work I avoid doing it all at once. A couple of years ago we did a lot of tree limb pruning and I happily hauled the cut limbs to the street. I felt great doing it but later my shoulder hurt terribly for days. I could barely raise my arm or type on the computer. I even went to my doctor , who prescribed some variation of ibuprofen. I had avoided ibuprofen due to fears of it making a hole in my stomach. Dr. said just eat something with it. Anyway the ibuprofen worked very well but my shoulder remained somewhat painful for about a year especially at night. It is a bit better now but I try to avoid stressing it. A lot of repetitive weeding can hurt my hands.

I thought of that Dylan Thomas poem, " Do not go gently into that good night, rage, rage against the dying of the light." When someone CAN keep going you want them to find every way to keep going but if it came down to it and you could not avoid whatever decline or death, I think acceptance and peace with it would be better than futile rage. Resisting aging can take a very healthy form if you give a nod to reality and so are not denying your limits.

Just got back from watching our daughter cross the finish line at a half marathon. There were a lot of older people in the race. Running in the rain.

I did a half marathon once. It involved 3 cycles of a route through my town. I stopped off at a couple of pubs...each round and by the time I finished, most everyone had packed up and gone home. I did it though...slowly (and by the end, extremely drunkenly).

One of the ways I keep going is to do things in moderation. That and modifying how I work. For weeding I have a tool, bought from an unremebered online hosta seller, called a No Mercy Tool. Searching does not turn up a source, so maybe they're not around any more. It's a 2 foot long stainless steel handle with sharp stainless steel tines. I attached it to a 6 foot piece of 1 inch PVC. It's not as fast as bending over, but I can do it for hours and after many years I've gotten pretty good at snagging weeds around plant stems. Only thing it doesn't do well are tap rooted weeds like Dandylions.

As you can see it;s well used, :o) and could cause some serious damage if used improperly. I've been fortunate so far.

If I need to move rocks I lay the wheelbarrow down and roll them into it or use a dolly. Little changes that keep me going.

Glad you are feeling better mxk, allergies are no fun especially at certain times of year. My sil is medicated every day.

We all slow down at some point. As a senior I have noticed the marathons are harder on me. I will have a really fulfilling day then the next I have to have a lighter day. Pacing is everything. It was not a huge surprised when I was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis since I was predisposed but degeneration of the spine and hips was not welcome news. It really changes nothing because I will still do what I do regardless. I have always tried to work smarter not harder and when I have yet another huge boulder to move I will just approach it the way I always have, carefully and with respect to me and it.

@porkchop_z5b_MI This is the best post & discussion I’ve read on this forum in just ages! Thanks for asking the question to the audience in general! I’ve read every single response and enjoyed every single one of them. There is at least one point in every post that I can totally empathize with having at some time felt the same as the poster is describing. Interesting, given that there seems to be @ a 20 year age range here. That seems to prove the point @docmommich made that ”…no one should compare themselves to anyone else…”. I know that but it made me feel better to read it! We are in our retirement home, almost 11 years now, with a smaller house & larger yard but less plant area & more hardscape than our last home. Over the past 3 years or so I have changed things to be less labor intensive such as more evergreens in large pots placed out in landscape with drip watering instead of annuals in those containers on patio. I’ve replaced shrubs that required pruning more than once a year, things like that. I am a person who still can work all day in my yard, only coming in when I realize I’m starving or it’s getting dark. I laughed at the suggestion to vary tasks to avoid repetitive use injuries to muscles as I seem to do that naturally. I either am bored quickly or am easily distracted by another task I see needs doing while working on the first one. Drives my DH nuts - he often asks ”are you working on this or that?” if he’s outside with me. He’s not much interested in yard work but loves the result & cheerfully helps or does the heavy lifting at my request & direction. His outdoor task which he loves is to maintain the lawn scapes - with minimal chemicals I must add. I do note that I have more stiffness & less flexibility each year but I also note that the more active I am the less stiff & more flexible I am. Proving I guess the ’use it or lose it’ adage. I do exercise at a gym during our long wet winters but feel less need to do so when I’m reaching, stretching, carrying, bending all day outside so I don’t use gym as often in spring / summer. I did spend most of yesterday outside as we had a rare dry day. I slept well & long last night & almost lept out of bed this morning - to rain. Drat! But 70’s + are in our weekly forecast! Finally!

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) I’m so happy for you that you have a new companion to share your days with! I wondered about that for you. Congratulations!

@peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada Laurie - I meant to ask- how your awful clean up job is progressing? Extra care will be needed for your joints as I see many marathon days in your near future. I hope that you have a lovely tub and a good supply of lavendar scented Epsom Salts on hand. Long evening soaks are balm for many things that ail us!

Thanks, KW 😊 He is a little charmer. I have had dogs all my life and I have adored them all but he is the most comical and entertaining little character I have ever encountered in doggy form! And a wonderful, loveable excuse for not getting much done.

gg48 - what breed is your new buddy? You keep calling him little but the picture looks like he (?) could turn into something large….?

Javi (short for Javier) is a Havanese and at 12 pounds, that's about as big as he's going to get.

Kathy KW PNW Z8 you are incredibly sweet! It is coming along slowly but surely. (We had a terrible freezing rain storm and there was an appropriate post on the Hosta forum to talk about it). Every day my DD and I are hauling trees and branches either into the forest or the burn pile having to saw most to make them manageable. Many need to have a rope slung over them to get them them out from the trees they are caught up in. There is so much that requires a chainsaw but that will have to wait since my sil has two sprained knees. The crew with the bucket truck will be back. I was out last night cutting back Miscanthus that stay up all winter because that needs to be done too. I am out of Epsom Salts! A nice hot shower at the end of a day helps too! What a wonderful person you are!!!

Quite unusual to see a wholly black havanese, GG., (in my limited experience)

Anyway, a few years ago, I looked after one of these for a while, when I was a pet adopter. A little black and white one. At the time, I had a very standard, long-haired b & w border collie (Lila) and a fluffy black and white cat(Thistle). I used to tell people that the havanese (Sally) was a cross from the dog and cat...and more than a couple of people believed this total fib.

Mind, I also have a lot of fun telling people my current Welsh sheepdog (Hazel, sable, black and white ) is a cross between a dog and a fox.(she has a truly fabulous tail)..and again, people seem to be ever so willing to suspend disbelief. I blame the interweb.

He is not as black as he looks, RP. In sun or good light, there is a lot of brown, especially around his muzzle. And there are random white hairs down his back that make him look like a graying old man :-)

When we went to visit the breeder, she had 9 puppies available from two litters, both sired from the same father. He was the only fully black one at the time but also the most engaging and attentive, even at only 7 weeks old. His half brother lives nearby and they enjoy playdates together but Obi is as dumb as a stump (sorry little man) and ill mannered - I blame his human, who is a terrible pet parent. Obi has quite a lot of white on him and also some browning.

Havanese are known for their intelligence and Javi is as smart as a whip!! The most intelligent and easiest/fastest to train dog I have ever owned.