Tuesday - 2008-0715-0015 - Rain - Rain Drops; July in Mississippi; Plants - Selecting and Buying; Plants - Planting; Plants - Future; Plants - Stoop

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July in Mississippi is difficult to explain unless you live here. It means high temps, high humidity and high heat indices. Work outside at 6 am, and in 20 minutes, you'll be drenched in sweat. Trips in the sun from 10 am to sunset can border on the dangerous.

The air is still; flags hang likes nooses; birds are unseen; the heat creates long, black lakes on the pavement; tires squish on the road; the dynamo hum of air conditioning is ubiquitous.

There was a section here that got erase that dealt with the turmoils and selecting and buying three evergreen plants for the front and side planting beds. BUT it was destroyed in a cut/paste effort.

The bed is l-shaped, facing east and south. So I opted to position a plant at the end of each bed and one in the corner.

I was not up for immediate planting. So the next evening, I went out with various shovels, rakes and a heavy-duty trowel. It took about 30 seconds for me to realize the soil was mostly clay, a fact I seem to have suppressed. I was only able to dig about six inches, but I filled the hole with water before leaving.

Since the cats woke me early the next morning, I dragged myself outside at 5:30 and finished the first plant. The next one was not at difficult, but I was exhausted when finished.

I waited another day for the third plant. And this was by far the worst situation. The soil was criss crossed with roots. I chopped away for awhile and then switched to the ever-valuable reciprocating saw. From start to finish, it took at least an hour.

My next task will be to fill in the vacant areas. I need something that is medium-sized and bushy-like. But expense will be a major factor.

I stopped at Lowe's one day and picked out some smaller plants for the front stoop. I had three in plastic pots that I bought several years ago. Then recently, I bought six or seven more pots at Hobby Lobby - actual ceramic pots. So I've been looking for something suitable. So now I've added three more plants.

(In Tuesday - 2008-0715-0015 / Out - 2008-0718-0030) This entry was written in multiple settings.

Pax! Erin go braugh! Je accuse...