List #10: Backyard Lessons

When renovating our century-old home, we were told to live in it before deciding what to do with the backyard.  "See where the sun falls in your backyard."  "Understand your home first."  "Be patient.  It takes time."  

That drove us nuts.   

We, however, kind of listened.  I say kind of because it was by accident we did not do anything.  A mix of being overwhelmed with home ownership and gardening ignorance prevented us from doing much.

Douglas' father sent in his crew to cut down the weeds that made our backyard a wilderness.  We threw in some daffodils and tulips and much to our surprise they grew.  We strung up fairy lights around the tree that later turned out to be an incredibly thick weed.

The second year my stepmother, a licensed lead gardener, came and studied our yard.  She helped us rearrange the pavers and drew up some landscaping designs.  In the end she said sagely, "It takes time."  

We cheered when the daffodils and tulips came back.  We hung up a hammock, got a new grill and had some citronella tiki torches lined up.  Someone gave us some tiger lilies that died right away.  I did not observe the sun.  I observed the growing season that had occupied my body instead.   

One impulsive day that ended in heavy rain, we built a small potager and tossed in seeds.  All summer and fall we ate tat soi and swiss chard.  Deep purple basil graced our soup bowls.  The squirrels nipped at our tomatoes.

This year for the third time we see the daffodils breaking ground and I think of Levi's teeth coming in.  It's so true.  Cultivating and caring for something takes time. 

We know:

1.  The wily weed that invaded our yard is called Japanese knotweed.

2.  Cutting knotweed is a no-no.  Pull it out completely.

3.  Weeding a few minutes a few times a week keeps the knotweed at bay.

4.  The more knotweed, the more mosquitoes.

5.  Eliminate standing water.  Mosquitoes need only 1/2 of an inch of standing water to breed.  

3.  When it rains, water flows towards the house.  The yard needs to be re-leveled.

4.  Nothing grows on the left side of our yard.

5.  Everything flourishes on the right side.

6.  Having a lawn consumes so much water.

6.  There is a story underneath the soil (we found a baby doll and a glass vial straight out of Alice in Wonderland among many things).

7.  It does takes time.  

One day our yard will be bountiful and beautiful.  I know it.  We just have to be patient.  

It still drives me nuts.