GARDENING
Just because I don’t live near the sea, doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be reminded of it; of wonderful times spent at the coast. I haven’t traveled often, but the wonderful memories of the sea waves and beach sand live inside me from my visits. Because the seaside is likely my favourite place to relax, I want to create a seaside-feeling deck. I have been working towards it for the past few summers, and have met with some success, but it is not nearly where it should be. So this year I want to Make It Happen.
As I write this there is still a bit of snow in the yard, but the deck is bare – hallelujah! Spring is on its way.
I don’t plan to exactly replicate the sea, but to bring the same freshness, blues, soft colours and peaceful riotous nature to my deckside and deck.
I have a metal-frame deck set that includes two chairs, a two-seater sofa and a small coffee table. The chair cushions are covered in a striped all-weather fabric that looked like summer to me. There are also several clusters of pots in deep blue and black, with a rippled surface finish that reminds me of water ripples. And there is an ancient half-moon table, a couple of trellises and some plant supports. The roof of the deck is a pergola. The deck leads out from my workroom, which used to be a rec room.
I am hoping to use the deck for summertime entertaining, and so the flow-through to my workroom (and the workroom tidy factor!) will also be important.
Several years ago I started planting flowers with blue tone. The last couple of summers we have been working out of town, and this past winter was especially cold, so I am not sure what plants will have survived the ordeal they have been through. I am hoping that I haven’t lost too many, but the next 8 weeks will show me what is still there.
Another goal I have is to grow more food this year; zero mile diet. This will be part of the same deck area, which may be quite a decorating challenges.
The parameters I want to try to work with include a gardening time limit of 10 minutes a day, and 1 hour on the weekend – for a total of 2 hours per week; and $200 towards plants, seeds and soil additives. The minutes may be used up as needed, but no more than 2 hours per 7 days. The $200 will likely be spent mostly on plants, I have a compost heap for additives, and I will scrounge around for other materials as needed.
The minutes do NOT include, reading about gardening, enjoying the garden, doing nothing in the garden, etc. The $$ spent do not include books, magazines, food and drink to enjoy in the garden. Both measures are solely a budget to ensure that I get maximum return on investment, maximum pleasure from my ‘seaside’ deck.
I’ll keep you posted.
