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When you just run out of room..or just get older.

stan510

By stan510

17 comments


I think I’m winding down in the hobby folks. I haven’t bought a plant in weeks,and just have that feeling of all things plant are not as important to me as they had been the last 20 years.
I once prayed that I would see my Mango’s have fruit and get as tall as a fence..that seemed tall to me then. Well,they have,and have gone on to where I need a ladder rung or two to reach the top.
So,from now on..not much to do. Just water.
I’m for sure not adding potted plants.
In fact,its really for me a hobby to sit back and get the best out of what I have.
I sometimes even ponder if I should really take out plants in my yards. Give some space. But,for now just status quo.
I dont even post as much on plant boards. Give advice is fun,but my own plants will take years to change much-lol. Once you get past the 4 or 5 year mark the growth is incremental more or less. You know what I mean.
Yes,I can see my excitment at a new plant is not a burning as it used to be. I dont peruse mail order..go to far nurserys. Not like before.
I guess I’m not 34 and thinking of that great garden to be…almost 30 years later now,its what it is.
Maybe just buy more toys for the grand-kids and less toys for me..lol.

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Comments

 

I sometimes feel like that Stan but then you see something you "just have to buy". It's what keeps me going.

14 Oct, 2018

 

I felt like that this year as I am 70 next month it has hit me hard that I cannot do the heavy gardening much longer. This year I have reorganised my garden and pots are one of the things I have had to drastically reduce those left are now on wheels and I have purchased an electric hedge trimmer. My biggest fear is falling over as that can be so life changing.

14 Oct, 2018

 

I know what you mean Stan but don't totally avoid buying plants. Many are low maintenance and you have many years ahead of you to enjoy your garden. You could also have the joy of buying easy plants for the grandkids to get them interested in growing.

14 Oct, 2018

 

We have reached the same "plateau", Stan. The garden is full; the greenhouse is filling up; the hedges have been cut; the compost heap demolished; the pond dealt with. What's left? Alstroemerias to be put to bed and protected until next year: the rockery area weeded. Thank Goodness we now have help in the garden!
No more plant buying, although my husband is looking out for the Acer Palmatum, "Taylor".
Thanks to Readly he compensates with reading all the garden magazines he can find.

14 Oct, 2018

 

Buying no more plants is easy to decide but much less easy to do. I have just bought two new Potentilla fruticosas, an aster and two lavenders.(Nice easy things that don't need much upkeep) It would be nice to have some help in the garden but I just tell myself that the more plants I have the less room there is for weeds. The thing I am dreading is cleaning out the pond - just don't feel up to that one!

14 Oct, 2018

 

Thanks all. It definitely feels like a plateau. Perfect word.
Unless you have an estate..you reach that state. Because I think, its a case of all the plants you have- you like. No removing or what some people do with old gardens..rejuvenate with a replanting. I'm not feeling that.
Just prune to keep healthy is all I do.
I remember - clearly- in 1992 thinking when I planted a 3 gallon Howea palm in my back yard "I want to see this one day towering over the roof". Well,its over the roof if not towering.
Not many goals left to meet. Just keep it all nice.

15 Oct, 2018

 

Don't give up the ghost Stan as Seaburngirl says get your grand children into it and teach them your wisdom of knowledge like I have.

15 Oct, 2018

 

Stan, I am older than you (a girl never tells her age) but this year my chum Barbara and I (she is 14 years older than me!!!!!) started growing veg. I think because there are two of us it is better fun. A job shared is also easier. The best bit to is we can eat the plants.
How long this will last I don't know but for the moment it is great.
I have stopped buying plants for the garden and buy veg seeds instead.

15 Oct, 2018

 

I sometimes think Linda "Maybe I should have planted a edible landscape.?" I mean,at least the plants can't be compared to plastic plants that never change unlike some living plants and tree's.
Or natives. Give the local wildlife a station.

The problem with an average home and lot. Never enough room.

At the least with temperatures trending milder as the bay area grows and grows by millions of people,my tropicalia become far more permanent. One good thing.

15 Oct, 2018

 

For some reason Stan, reading your blog brings to mind Kenny Rogers song “The Gambler” Sounds like that when it comes to your garden....you are “out of aces”.

17 Oct, 2018

 

Right,Loose. Other then a redo that I'm not interested in,its incremental acquisitions and maybe just tweaking the look of what I have- like much nicer pots for some show plants that I have in anything I could find. A tote container for a choice trunking Cycad is not flattering that plant.
Its not "What I can do if I go hard at it" like in the 1990's. Its prim what I got.
And,play the lotto. I could start over with millions!

17 Oct, 2018

 

since i commented on this blog i fell over on the patio on wednesday and have a compound fracture of the radius which had to be manipulated before the plaster was applied. i will be very careful what i write in future luckily it was my left arm and the garden is done till the spring.

26 Oct, 2018

 

Oh no poor you Drc. I hope you will be ok soon that's not a nice break!

26 Oct, 2018

 

Sending you heaps of sympathy Drc. Thank goodness it wasn't your right arm though. Did you have to wait ages in A&E?

26 Oct, 2018

 

thank you both i have oramorth to take now so pain is manageable. no i was seen straight away and they were wonderful but it took along time altogether.

27 Oct, 2018

 

Sorry to hear that Dr.C. ,but sounds like it could have been much worse.
I know that these days I have to be careful when getting up from the ground... i don't fall face forward to the cement or pavement!
You get older and the legs don't hold up the extra weight very well.
I've lost about 30 pounds the last couple of years..and 40 more to go!

1 Nov, 2018

 

well done Stan i do so admire weight loss. the new plaster went on yesterday and its much easier to manage.

2 Nov, 2018

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