got my fingers dirty this weekend

[katekat]

Yeah, I kind of wish it was in a naughty way too, but instead, it was all about dirt. Real dirt. The kind that squishes through your toes when it's wet, and smells great when it's tossed. Dark, packed tight, almost clay in consistency. That's what I started my garden in this weekend.

Two garden stores yielded up their contents to us, with pony-tailed women as guides to fragrant and fuzzy plants. And we've decided that we're planting an herb garden. No oddly bushy plants for us, unless they have sweet smelling leaves. We filled the back seat with pairs of lemon balm and rosemary, oregano and chamomile. And stacked the trunk high with fertilizer.

We walked it all into our back yard, and I realized for the first time the strange immensity of space. It's only a 36 x 25 foot yard, but when you're working with a small shovel and your bare feet, even a 4 x 4 plot is a little daunting. But my toes got dirty, my knees got dirty, my hands sorted weeds from soil and spaded little places for my babies to grow. And now, in one little corner of our yard, there are a couple of rows, and it looks like it could be a garden. It's weeded and turned, fertilized and planted.

Not everything's in the ground though. The light gave out on me. I'll have to wait till the sun rises tomorrow.

Comments

[psychoadept.livejournal.com]

Yay for dirt! As someone who grew up on a farm, I miss it sometimes...

[katekat]

i'd forgotten what it was like to plant things in the ground instead of a pot - that was exciting. If you ever truly find yourself missing it, try going to your local garden shop - since i'm not religious they kind of became meditative places for me in LA.

[dara-starscream.livejournal.com]

Kewl. Space and dirt are good things. My last apartment was further back in my complex, and I had this chipmunk living across the walkway. Cool to watch on a damp day. Any roses in this aromatic mix?
-BJ

[katekat]

Yes, we will, but they're probably going in the front yard. I'm not so good with roses, although the boyfriend wants 'em. So they'll be his job. Chipmunks are cute, although i don't think we have 'em here - just squirrels (whose antics I find endlessly fascinating).

[dara-starscream.livejournal.com]

Argh, tree-rats. Known so because mention the word "squirrel" around my aunt's dogs and they go ballistic.

(looks out at the eight inches of snow and more coming down and sighs) It's all a moot point for another month and a half anyway. Does anybody know if the groundhog saw his shadow this year? I haven't been keeping track.
-BJ

[katekat]

unfortunately, i have some bad news. [insert bad french accent] zee groundhog, he saw his shadow this year [/insert bad french accent]. Hopefully it was simply a lie.

[sonder.livejournal.com]

Nothing grows in texas. You are doomed.

[katekat]

ha. i could've said that about alaska. yet, you grew there.

[sonder.livejournal.com]

I wasn't grown so much as cultured in a vat of evil.

[katekat]

touche. i'll get the vat going.

[dara-starscream.livejournal.com]

Where could I get one? I need minions and my apartment has a no-pets clause.
-BJ