The time to start turning up the dirt and readying the garden for 2009 is already upon me again.  On the green thumb scale, I put myself at a seven.  Better Homes and Gardens has never asked to take pictures, but I have yet to receive a complaint letter from our homeowners’ association either.  Most of the plants I place in the ground survive and some even treat me to flowers and color the whole year through.  

When it comes to gardening, I have a bit of multiple personality disorder.  I always dread gardening.  It exhausts me to think about the prospect of a zillion trips to the garden store and trying to successfully plant something into our cement-like clay soil.  Then, once I am actually working in the yard, I enjoy it.  I love to work hard with my head down and then look up a bit later and see real results.  In this digital age, I rarely see actual results of my labor.  It is all just stored somewhere on my computer’s hard drive.  Unlike most of the living beings in my life (i.e. children, pets, and husband), plants can be pruned and shaped anyway I want – an added bonus.  

This year a major garden renovation is underway.  Between last year’s drought and the recent construction work on our deck, the backyard is in a sorry state.  It is time to create several new planting beds and remind the grass that its favorite color is green.  Personally, I am not a big fan of grass.  Grass is great for football fields, but otherwise it is a lot of work for not much in return.  I feel that if it doesn’t flower or change colors in the fall it isn’t worth planting.  My opinions, however, are not shared by my husband.  He is an avid golfer.  To him a beautiful yard is vast expanse of perfectly manicured grass.  Since life is a compromise, our yard is a mix of plants and grass.  

At this point, I am about 75 percent completed with this project.  From the looks of the yard, you wouldn’t even know I started.  First, I designed the improvements and picked the plants.  Second, I begged for approval from the homeowners’ association.  We own the land and pay the taxes, but the HOA is what actually controls the fate of our yard.  Third, I pushed the shocks on my minivan to the limit as I made endless trips to the garden store. Finally, with the help of all the stuff I bought at the garden store, I turned our rock-hard clay soil into something friendly to growing plants.  All that is left is to plant the plants which is the most rewarding part.  

Actually, the most rewarding part is sitting on the deck with a glass of wine after it’s all done.  It’s not happy hour yet.  I have a bunch of plants that need help moving into their new home.  I better get a move on before nap time ends.  

Gigi appears Fridays on TriangleMom2Mom. To read more about Gigi, go to her blog Stroller Lane.