Dang!

So,

Yesterday, I started breaking ground on the garden. I potted several pots worth of flowers (small plants as well as seeds) and some veggies. I also put the River Birch we got from Kelly's grandmother into the front yard. It had been in a pot since Christmas time.

About halfway through the work day, I decided to start breaking the grass to start with the garden. That dang near killed me. I started using a flat shovel on the grass, but that proved to be way too labor intensive. Then, I opted to use a pick and rake to move the grass. That worked, but it wasn't really effective and the pick swinging made my back tense right up.

After about an hour of trying these two, I finally settled upon a system that worked. I used a cultivator (see link here) to pick up the grass and cultivate but that was toward the end of my effective day and took a good deal out of me. I was however able to save some grass for sod. I'm leaning toward renting a power tiller (see here) in order to save time, me, and give me more time getting the plants in the ground. Which is, after all, the idea.

Today (Monday) rain was predicted so I figured I wouldn't get much gardening done. I was spot on. I did acquire some window boxes (thanks Mumsy!) and have some flowers to put in those. I have an idea for them, but I won't tell anyone (except Kelly) until they get in place. Then, there shall be a mass unveiling. Need to paint them soon and add some hardware to tighten them up. Some screws seem necessary. But, I'm thinking some more flowers in there, as well as some bush beans. More on that to follow.