Over the last few days, I have been thinning out the violets in my garden. I first planted them thinking they could not go wild given the composition of my soil. The block was originally part of a site owned by SA Water who had covered it with gravel. It was subdivided and sold to a local builder who added builder’s grit to the mix and covered that layer with bark chips.
When I purchased the house, I decided to create a cottage garden. It took great effort to get through the solid layer, so I used a pick to do it. Over the last 25 years I have managed to break the layer up, but small stones still form part of the soil. I planted the violets when I first started to garden, and I figured they couldn’t possibly take hold. How wrong I was! So now, each year I either employ someone to thin them out or I do it myself.
Even though my back is sore, and I am fatigued, it is worth the effort. Being in the garden brings me joy. I feel free to be me. Now my green waste bin is full and ready to be taken next week. I am left with a real sense of satisfaction, albeit only for a few months. By then the violets will have begun to grow back. But at least there will be less of them until next year.
Dreamy usually strolls outside to check on me when I am in the garden, whines, then turns his head so his pointy nose is directed toward the back entrance of the house. He wants me to go inside with him. Instead, on Sunday when I started, he spent the afternoon laying on my bed asleep. Monday and this afternoon (Wednesday) he was at a friend’s place (his Uncle John). There he slept on his couch for the entire time. Uncle John tells me that he didn’t move, except to check outside once, but came back in quickly when he felt the heat. Ah, the life of a greyhound!
Here I am this afternoon with a satisfied look on my face. Below is a picture of the work in progress.
In love, Jenny
