Sometimes gardening is hard work

I have been pushing myself to the limits lately.  There are these big jobs that I put off until another day until they just can't wait anymore.  I live adjacent to a county park which is only 13 acres, but the county has been cutting budgets and staff to the point that nothing gets done which isn't an emergency.  For the 15+ years that we have been their neighbor, we have adopted our 140' stretch of "natural" area to keep it free of most invasives.  Trust me, this is what would grow there exclusively if it weren't for human intervention to fight it.

I did the pruning on the sugar maple that was planted there to keep it growing in good form this weekend.  I think it will take a rope and saddle rather than free climbing the next round.  By then it might also be ready to tap for maple syrup.  Time will tell.  I also pulled and pruned off several box elder sprouts that are threatening to make life miserable.  I had one that got away from us and it is too big to cut down without notice now.  That one got pruned up so a mower can pass under it rather than letting the burdock grow under its protection again.  This meant more brush to the pile.  Add to that the dead, cracked, and worn out lilac stems that were creating a tangled mess of nothing pretty to the mix and the pile grew even more.  Fortunately, a former co-worker is able to come by and chip the multiple piles and leave behind a truckload of chips besides.

My husband has one knee replacement and one needing replacement, so shovel work really aggravates the problem.  We have two more deck posts to dig out as well as three shrubs to transplant in the place of the invasives.  In their place, kiwi vines will grow to fruit and screen the backyard.  They arrived in the mail this week, so time is of the essence.  The old deck poles will find a new home as supports for these hardy vines.

Asparagus roots have arrived and the mushroom plugs are waiting for the spruce stumps to sprout their bounty.  Seedlings are needing water in the basement greenhouse and another round of seeds need a home to grow.  When it rains, it pours.

My advice:  Don't come around anytime soon if you don't want a shovel thrust into your hands.  Happy Arbor Day!