After trial and much error my backyard garden has flourished...

Despite the rats and squirrels feasting on my Lilly bulbs 15 survived over winter. Today I counted 38 lillies! I spent yesterday planting some perennials and a rose bush. Today I got rid of the grass. Years ago,some dimwit, thought it wise to plant two deciduous trees in the raised bed. This makes deweeding quite challenging as there are millions of wee little tree roots that make any digging a pain in the ass. I got rid of the grass there was at least six inches of thatch underneath,almost like a peat bog .

Anyways,I suppose I'm winning

Sounds charming.  No, seriously.  I'm no gardener, but I do like having living things round me.

My day lilies are blooming and are lovely.

Quote from: Jo Bannister on May 21, 2026, 11:40:41 AMSounds charming.  No, seriously.  I'm no gardener, but I do like having living things round me.

The only living thing I consider weeds is grass 🤣

I tolerate dandelions as it's a good source of food for bees

I agree completely, Frank. "weeds" are often native plants that become unpopular or conflict with the idea of the perfect lawn.

I've had a bumper crop of dandelions this year.

Over on the tangled branch poetry site Von said that high altitude dandelions, in The Rockies, grow really big, with leaves up to three inches wide as opposed to the narrow leaved 'city' varieties.

We went on a little two day vacation to a state park where we rented a canoe. I thought someone else would be putting it in the water, but it was our job and the water level was low and the boat ramp was long and we had to carry an 80-90 pound canoe down and then eventually back up the damn ramp that seemed like a mountain.

After lunch, we took a 3.4 mile walk/hike in the woods. The path was clearly marked but totally unimproved with lots of natural tripping hazards. We were walking through pine straw, downed leaves from last fall, pine cones everywhere and hidden pits or sink holes that were only found when the ground beneath the pine straw was not really where it should have been.

But we workout. Farmer carries helped us with the canoe moving and all the supine and TRX rows let us paddle our own canoe around the lake for an hour.

Step ups helped us climb over fallen trees that blocked the path. And all our balance work kept us from toppling over on the uneven terrain. Our stamina kept us going thru the 94 degree heat with a heat index of 103 degrees.

I talk a lot about the gym. I don't do gym stuff simply because I enjoy it, but I do enjoy it. I also do it so we can continue, even in our dotage, to do this kind of shit.

We got home before a storm blew through and dropped inches of rain on this side of the state. I don't know if any fell on the lake crying for water.