by Leslie Cox; Sunday; May 14, 2017

What can I say…other than there are never enough hours in the day for me. Especially when it is gardening season.

It also does not help that I have way too many projects on the go all at once. I really should make a list and prioritize them.

Part of the problem is my brain…with all of its “bright ideas”. Well, truthfully, a teeny part of THAT problem is because I am an avid reader. Fiction novels, biographies…but the vast majority are books on gardening, climate change, insects, DIY projects, gardening magazines, recipe books, newsletters on all of these subjects…all good fodder for landscaping ideas, garden projects, writing projects, etc.

The other part of the problem…it is gardening season…and a large part of that problem is the really lousy weather we are having this spring.

Don’t get me wrong! I am NOT complaining about our weather. It is what it is. After the last three summers of intense drought, it is really a blessing to have this much rain…although a teensy bit warmer temperatures would be very lovely for the arthritic bones.

We certainly have absolutely no grounds for complaining about our weather here in the Comox Valley when so many people in other parts of Canada, and the globe, are experiencing such disastrous weather damage…and sadly, even death.

Getting back to the garden… the days are necessarily broken up into tiny bits for gardening whenever the wind is not howling or the rain is not falling in sheets. (Thankfully we have had no hail here in Black Creek…although other parts of the Comox Valley have been hit with little white balls….some three times!)

If the sun is shining, it is gardening time. Still in the garden even if the wind picks up but cancel doing chores which involve raking up leaves or sweeping up bits of debris on driveway. Forget pruning out dead branches on some of the trees and shrubs too…unless you can grab them in your free hand to hold them still.

But we are having to keep all tools close at hand because when the rain comes, it has been coming with a vengeance. Just two days ago, John got chased off the ladder from cleaning out gutters and into the greenhouse to take refuge from the literal wall of rain. Only had a sweater on and his sun hat. (It had been sunny just prior to the deluge!) No rain gear. I had to go rescue him with a brolly…and even then we got a bit wet. Rest assured, garden tools do not take kindly to that kind of drenching either.

So…change of plans. Rain means inside chores. Gives me time to check on my seedlings still under lights downstairs and give them all some water. (Still too cold to transplant these outdoors.) Then I boot up the computer to catch up on some writing. But first, check emails. Some need answering…others entice me to read some of the enclosed articles. Okay, best get some writing done. Spend some time getting into “the zone”. Decide what I am going to write about…what needs primary attention on that day…what topic would be pertinent. Great, I am off and writing fluidly.

Nuts. The sun is shining. Better drop the writing project and get outside to carry on with whatever chore I was working on before the deluge started. Usually I only just get started when John announces he is hungry. Not a problem I should eat something too. After the meal, Sadie demands her walk.

After all those interruptions, and if I am lucky, there may still be a window of “decent” weather for gardening. If not, I boot up the computer again and try to pick up the dropped thread of thought I had before that last period of sunshine…and making a meal…and walking the dog…dragged me away. (Admittedly, it had merely been pseudo-sun with grey overtones.)

In the famous words of Calvin and Hobbs, “the days are just packed”! So why is it I never seem to get a whole project completed when I have been busy all day?

As I said…I am falling behind. But I do seem to “get there” eventually…and crossed two website articles off of my To-Do List yesterday. Both are in Gardening Info & Tips under In the Garden on the main menu bar.

Today I can cross off the blog entry telling everyone “Garden Chores: May” (quick link here) and “Chart: Herb – Vegetable Companion Plantings” (quick link here) are finally up on my website.

Still to come…“Seeds to sow in May”. It is next on my List!