You know the kids had a good day when, at the end of the day, the bathwater turns black.
We planted today. And when I say we, I mean me, because after ten minutes of shoveling soil into the window boxes, the kids walked away and headed for the swing set. And yet, at the end of the day, they were filthy. I'm scared to think what the bathtub would have looked like had they actually helped plant.
I went to Lowe's this morning, a Sunday in May - obviously a big mistake. There were two lines for the cashier in the outdoor flower section, with at least 20 people on each line and neither line was moving. I considered walking out as soon as I saw the circus but my four year old was with me and he really wanted to get the flowers now because after the trip to Lowe's we were going to Toys R Us to pick out birthday presents for his friends. So we stayed. And after picking out the flowers, I realized that all these people on line were idiots. There were a zillion cashiers inside the store, just waiting for someone to buy something, anything from inside the store. And there was no sign saying you had to pay for the flowers outside. So we went inside, paid and were back in the car three minutes later, very proud of ourselves. Those other guys are probably still standing on line waiting to pay. I shouldn't say it, but haha for us!
We planted today. And when I say we, I mean me, because after ten minutes of shoveling soil into the window boxes, the kids walked away and headed for the swing set. And yet, at the end of the day, they were filthy. I'm scared to think what the bathtub would have looked like had they actually helped plant.
I went to Lowe's this morning, a Sunday in May - obviously a big mistake. There were two lines for the cashier in the outdoor flower section, with at least 20 people on each line and neither line was moving. I considered walking out as soon as I saw the circus but my four year old was with me and he really wanted to get the flowers now because after the trip to Lowe's we were going to Toys R Us to pick out birthday presents for his friends. So we stayed. And after picking out the flowers, I realized that all these people on line were idiots. There were a zillion cashiers inside the store, just waiting for someone to buy something, anything from inside the store. And there was no sign saying you had to pay for the flowers outside. So we went inside, paid and were back in the car three minutes later, very proud of ourselves. Those other guys are probably still standing on line waiting to pay. I shouldn't say it, but haha for us!
before window boxes
after window boxes
And so we planted our beloved flowers in the window boxes - and there were a ton of flowers left over. I feel I should mention that these window boxes have never actually lived on or near any windows in our house. Although they would look lovely on the windows, that is way too much work for us. All the banging and hammering and worrying if they were too heavy and were going to rip the siding off the house. Not for us. But lucky for me, and for the window boxes that I bought several years ago without thinking it all the way through, I have these railings flanking my house's walkway and the flower boxes fit onto these railings really nicely and securely, no hammers, nails or prayers needed.
So the flower boxes are full and hung up, and I'm looking around and I see a serious amount of flowers still waiting to be planted. At this point, I am starting to think that maybe, just maybe, I overbought flowers. What to do? The window boxes are full and we're running low on soil. And I really wanted to finish this project today because we are no good when it comes to projects that are not done before bedtime. We just never come back to them, either pretending we never started them or just plain totally forgetting about them.
Where oh where to plant these extra flowers?
And then I remembered reading somewhere that flowers can be planted in any waterproof container with holes on the bottom. But what's a waterproof container with holes on the bottom? That's pretty much the definition of a planter. But if I had a planter, I'd use it. Looking around, I saw we had some beach pails that no one ever looked at - until of course I took them off the shelf and asked Josh to punch holes on the bottom. Of course then, those pails were the super-extra-favorite-toy of all the kids. Whatever, they were my planters now.
So the flower boxes are full and hung up, and I'm looking around and I see a serious amount of flowers still waiting to be planted. At this point, I am starting to think that maybe, just maybe, I overbought flowers. What to do? The window boxes are full and we're running low on soil. And I really wanted to finish this project today because we are no good when it comes to projects that are not done before bedtime. We just never come back to them, either pretending we never started them or just plain totally forgetting about them.
Where oh where to plant these extra flowers?
And then I remembered reading somewhere that flowers can be planted in any waterproof container with holes on the bottom. But what's a waterproof container with holes on the bottom? That's pretty much the definition of a planter. But if I had a planter, I'd use it. Looking around, I saw we had some beach pails that no one ever looked at - until of course I took them off the shelf and asked Josh to punch holes on the bottom. Of course then, those pails were the super-extra-favorite-toy of all the kids. Whatever, they were my planters now.
These are the pails before Josh did whatever he did with his drill.
And these are the pails after.
Fill with soil.
And plant with as many extra flowers as you can cram in there. Ignore the instructions on the flower tag thing that says to plant 6"-8" apart.
Place on front steps, stand back, and smile.
Take pictures of pretty azaleas and hostas and some other little bush that you planted last week and reflect on how proud of yourself (myself) you are because we ripped out the huge diseased bushes the house came with way more than a year ago - possibly two, but who can remember - and have had nothing in the front yard but weird looking patchy grass. Okay, we still have patchy grass (see below) but we're working on it.
So empty and desolate looking was our front yard, that one neighbor actually said that we should have kept the ill-looking bushes and I'm pretty sure the other neighbors whispered to each other that we were the ones dragging down the property values on the block.
So empty and desolate looking was our front yard, that one neighbor actually said that we should have kept the ill-looking bushes and I'm pretty sure the other neighbors whispered to each other that we were the ones dragging down the property values on the block.
So there. We are no longer the hobos on the block. We have planted. There are still more flowers waiting to be planted (sheesh, I must have really overbought, way more than I first thought) but they will have to keep waiting while I look around the house for more containers that can have holes punched into them.
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