2020. That's really all one needs to say for anyone to know what a topsy-turvy, wild rollercoaster of a ride last year was. My gardening adventures became sidelined. with the changes and adjustments to the "new" normal. Let's dig in more!
My spring flower garden did not disappoint this year, especially since it was my first time planting Anemones, Ranunculus and Tulips. This was in my top three most joyous times in the year. I was rather pleased with the results for my first time, so pleased I went a bit crazy and doubled the quantities to plant in Fall of 2020. Check out my post on Anemones!
But as Spring arrived, so did COVID and all the panic and restrictions lead to me work from home, something I thought I could never do. As it turns out, it is really not that bad and I'm certainly more productive, and LOVE not having an hour commute to and from work daily. Also, for someone who hates to be on camera, or have my picture taken, I've learned to roll with it, but still prefer to be behind the camera.
After Spring was done, and the beautiful large blooms had run their course, I was blessed with an impressive crop of Rocket Larkspur, from the seeds I collected from my last crop the previous year. This crop helped fill in the gaps till May when the temperatures start rising rapidly. But, in early June, everything changed for me, I got a new puppy - a Yellow Labrador named Poppy!
If you thought gardening was challenging enough with drought, climate change, pests and disease, add a curious pup to the mix! Poppy knows no boundaries - although she is getting better - and will gladly help dig, when you don't want her to of course.
The first couple months home, aged 2-4 months were not bad. She was curious, would stumble around, and was always right in the way or under foot, eating on every plant in the yard - and I've got plenty of plants not dog friendly. Gardening activities were best done at nap times when you could let her sleep in her kennel. But she knew when things were different and would go explore, and be a dog, naturally.
Months 5-6 were my most challenging with her. Her energy levels were growing, meaning she needed more entertainment and exercise, and when she didn't get it my yard and garden were her sandbox, so to speak. Keeping her entertained was becoming difficult while working a full day, and adjusting still to the new work environment and schedule.
I was trying to maintain my tomatoes and herbs, carrots and strawberries, but Poppy had other plans. I couldn't keep her out of the beds. My strawberry plants, newly re-planted to a new bed in late 2019, were nearly destroyed entirely. As you can see in the picture, the bed was so fully of plants, and it was Poppy's favorite bed to play in. And when it rained, or the beds were watered, it was like catnip for her (I secretly think she is a Gremlin because she is so crazy when she gets wet).
Poppy is 8 months old now and still loves to run circles through the garden paths, jump into the raised beds, and take shortcuts through them. I tried really hard to keep my herbs and veggies Poppy free, but putting up fencing was a brief, days only, solution. I finally said around September that it was time to stop fighting, and "let the destruction happen. We can start over in 2021." I gave up, let my veggies get overly mature, and ended up keeping all as filler to not provide open, inviting spaces.
I slowly removed and cleaned up some beds and started some lettuces, onions and leeks around Thanksgiving. All seedlings are covered with my broken down tomato cage and plastic fencing.
Now its 2021. My cut flower beds are mulched in the thousands of Pecan leaves that fall in my yard,. The leaves seem to make the beds less desirable to Poppy. Who knew!
There is life in the garden and blooms of Anemones will be showing up soon. 2021 still won't be like previous years. Poppy and I have a lot of adjustments and learning to do in 2021, and we will bounce back. I look forward to the days when she is older and my good garden companion.
Thank you for reading! Happy New Year everyone, we'd love to hear from you!
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