Manure, Mulch and Muscles ~ My Exercise of Choice

This is most outstanding, and I can see why you highlight it. You certainly have a right to be proud.

Thanks George for stopping by.  Was it only eight weeks ago the ground was barren and frozen?  I love when Spring comes dancing in with all her beautiful colors.

Yes, those are my sentiments also, but Spring was so coy this year, and Summer is so boisterous, that Summer is almost crowding Spring out. Oh, well, at Mark Twain said, "Everybody talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it." lol

Beautiful garden, your hard work certainly does pay off and Mother Nature loves you for it.  Gardening always gave me that feeling of accomplishment and self worth.

Thanks so much for sharing with my group.

I do feel like I have accomplished something, Nana, when I look out at my gardens.

What a beautiful garden!  The rewards of your exercise are more than good health - they're gorgeous, peaceful gardens. 

They are NOT too peaceful when Sage and Julia come over.  Lol

Your gardens are looking great, Bob!

It's funny how my doctor told me during my last visit that I still needed a "harder" exercise program because gardening isn't really THAT hard.

Huh?  After a day's gardening, she better not tell me it's not THAT hard.

I understand her wish for a more aerobic exercise for me but I don't want her saying that gardening isn't hard!  My muscles beg to differ at the end of each day!

You know the funny thing is the fact that there have been numerous studies showing that gardening helps you maintain joint flexibility, prevents osteoporosis, and burns calories.  Somewhere, God knows where, I was reading that gardeners spend 17 per cent less on health care services then non-gardeners.

Plus, as any gardener knows, gardening has huge stress-reduction and mental health benefits.  You should see me pull weeds when I'm angry!

They probably should have studies that show that it reduces instances of murders, yes... there were countless times when I've calmed myself down pulling weeds and talked myself out of major snits while gardening  :-)

Pulling weeds is a great way to reduce anger and so very productive.  It is like making a clean sweep mentally and in my garden as well.

So - so - beautiful. I love your garden and I'm thrilled to see new pics of it. You grow several plants I can't in this heat. Lovely Mz. Bob!

I agree with duckie - I beg to differ - gardening is hard work. I need to see to a few things this week myself:)

Tis hard it is, but well worth the effort, Rose.

You have a beautiful yard & garden. Love all the flowers!

Thank you for your kind words, Priscilla.

Your superb garden is the result of your excercise of choice ... you don't need to go to the gym, Bob.  But in West Oz you'll have to pound the pavement.  Camera in hand, of course.

By September, Mag, I'll be ready to leave the gardens for some touring.  I'm so excited about going to Australia.  Can't wait to see both Carolyn and you...then of course there's Melanie and Elita and Wendy and Jacob....and the list goes on.

So many people, Bob, so little time .... sigh.

...and Michael, Fiona, Natalie and little Em....not to forget Thomas, and Dot and Molly....and a slew of others.

Thousands of them, Bob.

The thing is Mag...before I come I will need one of those translation thingies...you know, English to Ostralian language books.  Otherwise, how will I ever be able to understand everyone and babble on common ground?

I've been vegetable gardening, pruning, composting, weeding--I'm getting a whole body workout but especially more upper body exercise than is usual for me.  Feels great!

It does feel great, doesn't it.

The photos are great, by the way.

Bob:  Gardening is my exercise of choice as well.  I will work on getting my pictures up this week end.  Your yard is lovely.  I understand why you enjoy you home and yard to much.

I will look for your pictures, girl.  Finally got mine up today.

This is a beautiful place - great photos!

Thanks Kimber for stopping by.

WOW..what a beautiful yard and flower beds...you certainly have been busy...I can't imagine all the hours you have put in to have such a lovely place to live

This spring has been a rainy one, Katherine, and it seemed it always rained cats and dogs on the week-end, so it was pretty frustrating at times.  I would have a list a mile long of things I needed to accomplish in the gardens and then I would be stuck inside.  In the end, it was many hours after school I would be outside with spade in hand, working the soil.  Lena's Paul came in handy with his truck.  Instead of loading 5 gallon buckets in the CRV to carry manure, we managed to fill his truck bed with a load.

Mmmmm I'm confused...Nancy right below me is calling you Bob while I'm wanting to call you Elizabeth...two distinct gender type names : - )  
But which ever...we had a rain soaked May as well and June is turning quickly dry

I sent you an email on the name....too long a story to write here.

thanks...it's a bit of a story that I'm saving for when I can make time to read it   : - )

What beautiful flowers Bob.  Guess hauling all that manure worked.  For you and your garden.  Lol.

My flowers just thrive on manure.  There are several horse farms in the area and they "dispose" their manure on bog lands of my sister....and after two years, it's "ready" to be used.

Every inch is filled with dedication and beauty.  None of this happens without effort and love.  I can see it in every frame.  A pure delight Elizabeth.

Funny thing, Karen, until five years ago, I knew nothing about gardening.  I had a few flowering trees and a long expanse of green grass.  After the house burned down in 2002, the yard was one huge sandpit after they put in the new septic system.  I knew I had to do something.  One garden led to another....and the gardens just took off.  Throughout the growing season, I have "color".....irises, lilacs, columbine give way to bee balm, cone flowers, cleomes, etc.  Of course, the mums come in the fall.

What a beautiful essay!  You have a wonderful variety of flowers!  All your hard work has definitely payed off!  Great job!

Most of the original plants come from church "plant sales" in the spring.

Elizabeth, what a beautiful yard and garden you have ! Everything about it shows a love for gardening and beauty ! Wonderful photos and comments ,also.

Thank you Phil for stopping by.

Bob, it is all so beautiful.  I don't know how you manage it all!  And yes, it is hard work.  I've been going to bed aching for 2 months now.  But the delight in sitting on the porch and looking at our masterpieces is well worth the effort.  You have created a wonderland of sorts.  It's magnificent.

I don't know how I manage it all, Lynne.  I put in some time in the late afternoon after I get home from school...and then there's the week-ends.  Don't come inside my house, it's a mess....I much prefer being outside.  Housework takes second place to gardening in the spring.

Also, I love all the yard art.  A veritable museum in the gardens.  Fantastic.

Don't you just love the blue heron on the granite post?

You've given me the kick in the pants I need.  Tomorrow I am going to work out in the garden!   Love your garden, views, prose, and photography.  I will be calling you on Skype to reconnect.  Hugs to you.

I hope it was a "soft kick", jan.  I will look for you on Skype tonight.

I'm reading this and it's raining out now. My landlady does the gardening around here, although with a postsge stamp-sized yard there's not much to do. I cut the lawn (sic) for her yesterday; all she has is an old, heavy push mower (you know, the kind with no motor taht you push through the grass) whose blades need some serious sharpening. Unfortunately I don't know how to sharpen them, so the lawn (sic) is a bit rough-cut. Oh well, it was good aerobic exercise!

My mower isn't much better but Papa does sharpen the blades.  We have too many levels for one of those fancy ride on ones.

Beautiful pictures!

Thanks Margaret for your kind comment.

A wonderful photo essay. Lovely flowers. Yes it can be good exercise and good for your health too. Happiness is healty.

Thanks for all your wonderful comments.  You were on a roll I see.

I would be honored if you view some of my photo's too. Have a blessed day,

Wonderful way to get exercise and enjoy the results too. Just beautiful!

You can't loose...beauty and fine exercise all wrapped up in one activity.

So beautiful, Bob.....and I hate to exercise but for me to work in the yard is pure pleasure and not considered exercise....

Haven't seen actual columbines in several years!  Love the oclor of the ones in your yard!  When I lived in SC I had blue ones.

I have pink, blue, white and red columbines, Sonja...though I started oout with just these.

They are beautiful in any color....I wish I could grow them here, but they won't....:-(

There are things we mainland transplants have to get used to and that is to appreciate the gorgeous flowers we have here and not pine for what won't grow.....and for the most part I do...but once in a while I still wish for what I can't have ;-)

I am so in awe.  Can I come live in your yard for a few weeks??

After my divorce; gardening became my excercise, too.  Non-gardeners can have their eliptical machines & such.  I'll stay in the dirt. 

Thanks for sharing your wonderful oasis.  :)

Thanks for stopping by Michelle.  But of course you can live in my yard for a few weeks.

Beautiful, but I was hoping to see you sitting in a pile of mulch reading a book.

amazing flowers

thanks for posting to Photos in Bloom