Just so’s you all know: Josiah has a pretty sweet side to him too. When he’s not making messes and being ornery!! This morning I walked outside and found him doing this:
He was watering all the new little plants I put in last week! No one told him to; but he’s seen me go turn on the garden hose and sprinkle all these tender plants each day, so I guess he figured he’d take care of that chore for me today. What a helpful boy!!
For a bit of history, when we bought the house, this was the place the previous owners let their dogs sleep. It was a real mess, full of dirty hay (for dog bedding??) and looked like this:
Early this year after the deck redo was complete, I finally got down to the business of cleaning out the hay and other debris.
We pulled brick after brick after brick out from underneath the hay.
I had lots of good help.
And some folks who just wanted to play in the dirt, but hey that’s cool too.
After our hard work, it was at least free of junk, and tidy-looking. But since January, it has sat feeling rather lonely and empty.
Until last week: I visited a local nursery and got some advice on what to plant here in hopes that we could keep it alive despite mostly shade and no sprinkler system feeding this area. I wanted as many evergreen perennials as would work so as to minimize effort/expense in the future. Among other things I planted a jasmine vine which I am hoping will happily climb and bloom all over this cute little birdy trellis I painted black (I love my trellis!):
And a Japanese Holly Fern, a Gardenia, Curly Red Coral Bells, and some Purple Shamrock.
I have yet to choose a plant for the corner, where I’d like something that will grow somewhat tall, yet narrow enough that it does not cover the kitchen window and block light from coming in. I definitely want to put something evergreen here. If any of my wonderful, green-thumbed readers have suggestions, please speak up! I need all the gardening help I can get.
Looks like Josiah knows that, and it’s a good thing he’s jumped in to help with the efforts to keep my little plants alive and thriving. Let’s hear it for Mommy’s Little Gardening Helper!
What a great helper you have there! Does he make house calls? My garden needs lots of water!!
We’re still conviced that your family is re-living our life, 20+ years later. (right down to the red hair) What a delight and blessing to us to watch the story unfold.