Advice or "just' prayers for the tasks we struggle with

[ex-pat]

If I saw or heard about my wife undertaking a chore around the house that caused her pain or a medical condition to get worse or act up I would either do it myself or hire someone to do it. The seminary student sounds good. Help like that would be prudent.

But he didn't see it...he was travelling for business and this was meant to be a surprise...to finish his task, which he enjoys, but could not manage as he was travelling. If you would like to know where he is at the moment, it's outside, finishing the final flower bed, while I am here, resting in front of the computer.

 

[JRSut1000]

That was really sweet of you ex-pat! I'm sure he greatly appreciated it and I'm glad you try to share in his hobby as well.

Sitting for 3 hours watching my hubby's favorite team can be a bit tiresome, especially when I'm trying to keep the baby under control. But it's worth it just to be together with him doing something he loves.

 

[Chaplain David]

But he didn't see it...he was travelling for business and this was meant to be a surprise...to finish his task, which he enjoys, but could not manage as he was travelling. If you would like to know where he is at the moment, it's outside, finishing the final flower bed, while I am here, resting in front of the computer.

Sounds like you two have a wonderful garden. My wife loves flower gardens too. Me not so much - allergic to bees.

 

[FaithPrevails]

allergic to bees.

Same here - and just last night, DH killed a yellow jacket that he found just hanging out on our kitchen counter. Windows have been open thanks to some lovely weather this week - there must be a screen with a hole in it.

 

[FaithPrevails]

Oh and FWIW, winterizing a garden is a foreign concept to this tropic-dwelling girl.

 

[ex-pat]

Oh and FWIW, winterizing a garden is a foreign concept to this tropic-dwelling girl.

It involves researching every sort of flower/plant/shrub we own to see what its special needs are to survive and grow strong...I go through the "let's see what we have here" garden book, it says "Ah, THAT is a peony"....then i go online, type in "how to winterize peonies" and then it spits back:

Step 1
Remove the peony hoops if you used them to support your peony shrubs. Store them away over the winter for use next spring.

Step 2
Cut back all the stems so that they extend approximately 2 inches above the crown of the plant. The crown is the point where stems and roots meet. Discard the stems.

Step 3
Divide the tubers at this time, if necessary. Carefully dig up the tubers and wash off the excess soil so you can see exactly what you are doing when dividing. Use a utility knife to trim all roots to a length of between 4 and 8 inches. Separate the tuber so that each separated portion has between three and five eye buds and roots between 4 and 6 inches long. If there are decaying portions of the tuber, cut these off and discard them. Replant the divided tubers between 3 and 4 feet apart. Dig holes wide enough for the roots, and plant the tubers with eye buds pointing up. Cover each tuber with approximately 2 inches of soil. Water the newly divided peonies well.

Step 4
Wait until after the ground freezes and apply a 1-inch deep layer of mulch. It is very important not to mulch until after the ground freezes. Mulching when the ground is too warm may keep the peony tuber too warm over the winter, and this will prevent the peony from flowering.

Step 5
Remove the mulch in the early spring.



Read more: How to Winterize Peonies | Garden Guides How to Winterize Peonies | Garden Guides



So I go out, and endeavour to do so. The front yard has three huge flower beds...and I try to figure out what's up with each sort of flower in them. My husband was most pleased, especially with the lily of the valley bed (we'd missed that one last year). By now, of course, you're looking for a font size large enough to show how hard you're laughing and how grateful you are to be somewhere that gardens do not need this fuss and bother.

 

[FaithPrevails]

It involves researching every sort of flower/plant/shrub we own to see what its special needs are to survive and grow strong...I go through the "let's see what we have here" garden book, it says "Ah, THAT is a peony"....then i go online, type in "how to winterize peonies" and then it spits back:

Step 1
Remove the peony hoops if you used them to support your peony shrubs. Store them away over the winter for use next spring.

Step 2
Cut back all the stems so that they extend approximately 2 inches above the crown of the plant. The crown is the point where stems and roots meet. Discard the stems.

Step 3
Divide the tubers at this time, if necessary. Carefully dig up the tubers and wash off the excess soil so you can see exactly what you are doing when dividing. Use a utility knife to trim all roots to a length of between 4 and 8 inches. Separate the tuber so that each separated portion has between three and five eye buds and roots between 4 and 6 inches long. If there are decaying portions of the tuber, cut these off and discard them. Replant the divided tubers between 3 and 4 feet apart. Dig holes wide enough for the roots, and plant the tubers with eye buds pointing up. Cover each tuber with approximately 2 inches of soil. Water the newly divided peonies well.

Step 4
Wait until after the ground freezes and apply a 1-inch deep layer of mulch. It is very important not to mulch until after the ground freezes. Mulching when the ground is too warm may keep the peony tuber too warm over the winter, and this will prevent the peony from flowering.

Step 5
Remove the mulch in the early spring.



Read more: How to Winterize Peonies | Garden Guides How to Winterize Peonies | Garden Guides

OH EM Googlypants!

So I go out, and endeavour to do so. The front yard has three huge flower beds...and I try to figure out what's up with each sort of flower in them. My husband was most pleased, especially with the lily of the valley bed (we'd missed that one last year). By now, of course, you're looking for a font size large enough to show how hard you're laughing and how grateful you are to be somewhere that gardens do not need this fuss and bother.

How did you know that?!?!