we gave one away); there are buds on several of our rosebushes; and
the impatiens are fully blooming, despite a wee bit of frostbite.
The crape myrtles have gone completely dormant in the past two weeks,
but the St. Augustine grass is full and lush. Happy New Year!
Jason has observed that the roses along the fence are probably
competing for water with the St. Augustine (which has formed great
big clumps at their bases, where the mini-sprinklers are).
I've decided that since he is almost certainly right, it's time to
declare that rosebed permanent! I've been resisting putting in a
border and mulch on the theory that if the roses simply don't survive
there, we can pull them out without having damaged the lawn. But they
are surviving, and probably would do even better with the extra
water, so it's time to make their bed!
That is probably the major change we will make in this coming year.
The new grass in the front is beautifully established, so we've
eliminated one major hassle (pruning the shrubs that were there).
The beds, trees and pots are all on a 5-day timer now, so they don't
require even the minimal effort of my remembering to water them. If
I can remember to maintain the birdfeeder, and if we neaten up the
backyard bed.... and maybe build a dog gate and some low-voltage
lanterns to cap the deck railing posts ... then we'll have exceeded
our plans!
