2016 – NOVEMBER MINDY’S GARDEN DAY

This post 2016 November – Mindy’s Garden Day was written by Annie in Austin/Diva Glinda for the Divas of the Dirt blog Divasofthedirt.blogspot.com

November was half over by the time the Divas met at Mindy’s house – in some years the garden work might have included cleaning up frozen plants, but not in 2016! We’d had no frost or freezes and the mild weather continued. Jackets might be needed in the morning but the afternoon would be warm.

Mindy’s priority was the overgrown entrance bed, including pruning back the Barbados cherries, weeding and clipping. 

 

A squad of 5 Divas took on fall cleanup: Mindy, Buffy, Karla, Annie and Mattie were present, while Sugar, Sophia and Glinda were not able to come.  

Those Divas did a lot! Here’s an after photo by Mindy

and here is how Mindy reacted:

“…yesterday was a perfect day to stroll the driveway from the front entrance to the house and marvel at the startling difference a Diva day of work made…I can see MY HOUSE again between the kitchen and the garage! I can see the beautiful Giant Liriope and pathway!”

There are always changes and challenges – here’s hoping the Divas of the Dirt will continue to Grow, Live, Laugh and Love.

This post 2016 November – Mindy’s Garden Day was written by Annie in Austin/Diva Glinda for the Divas of the Dirt blog Divasofthedirt.blogspot.com

2016 – OCTOBER KARLA’S GARDEN DAY

This post 2016 October – Karla’s Garden Day was written by Annie in Austin/ Diva Glinda for the Divas of the Dirt blog Divasofthedirt.blogspot.com

October had not brought cooler weather for Karla’s garden day, but the Divas of the Dirt can take some heat if they get the chance to be together. Sugar, Glinda and Sophia were unable to be there but Buffy, Annie, Mattie, Mindy and Karla got a lot done.

Karla had warned her friends in an email to “bring your tools for cleaning up - bulldozer comes to mind when I look at the yard!”

Well maybe not a bulldozer, but something stronger than a trowel was needed for the corner patio bed – but careful, Divas – that’s Karla’s precious Anacacho Orchid tree in the center!

St. Augustine grass had sent runners all through the Purple Heart/Tradescantia in the entrance border, just inside the gate.

Karla likes Ruellia, but it had gone a little wild in the back border. 

The iris in the bed under the Crepe myrtle will do better once that bed is cleaned up… maybe a little compost and mulch, too? 

Divas Buffy, Karla and Annie survey the entrance border – they know just what to do!

It took awhile, but that back border is much improved!

Sometimes the plants in pots need help, too. Here is Diva Annie with assistant Barbie. 

The table is in lovely Autumn Harvest mode. Karla’s menu thumbed its nose at the warm weather and celebrated fall – soups from an Austin favorite - The Soup Peddler.

Karla sent out a thank you note, “The best thing ever about opening the blinds this morning was NO RUELLIA in sight!! The next was seeing all the cleaned up beds looking like they were ready for a new start!”

This post 2016 October – Karla’s Garden Day was written by Annie in Austin/ Diva Glinda for the Divas of the Dirt blog Divasofthedirt.blogspot.com

2016 – SEPTEMBER BUFFY’S GARDEN DAY

This post, “2016 – September Buffy’s Garden Day”, was written by Annie in Austin/Diva Glinda for the Divas of the Dirt Blog at DivasoftheDirt.blogspot.com

All eight Divas of the Dirt made it to Buffy’s garden day in September – although both Glinda and Mindy were a little late to the taco-fest breakfast.

Buffy had hired professionals for a few really big jobs and her garden was a different place.

New block edging defined the back corner of the garden

Some of Buffy’s plants were in full glory – especially the plants that were in shade. Isn’t this begonia beautiful?

Where uneven ground was once responsible for trips and tumbles, a new decomposed granite path was level and attractive. 

This bed was once stuffed with shrubs of Indian Hawthorn/ Rhaphiolepsis indica. When they were young and the yard was sunnier, these shrubs stayed more compact and bloomed well. But as they aged and surrounding trees grew taller, the hawthorns lost leaves, grew leggy and no longer worked in this space so Buffy had them removed. Oh, boy – a cleared bed, ready for Divas to plant! 

The dappled shade in the middle of the yard suits the St. Augustine grass, and the layers of surrounding trees, shrubs, plants and borders make Buffy’s garden feel like a peaceful haven. 

Out near the front door, more overgrown Indian Hawthorns had been removed, making a another space for the Divas to plant. Buffy’s other wish was for help with composting and mulching.

What a good start to fall!

This post, “2016 – September Buffy’s Garden Day”, was written by Annie in Austin/Diva Glinda for the Divas of the Dirt Blog at DivasoftheDirt.blogspot.com