..and I gave MK an ATP acorn to sweeten the deal.
I'm contributing some escheveria, kalanchoe and aloes to the project. I need some new hardy succulents to ease my separation anxiety. My SIL has graciously given me visitation rights to my palm and the other plants. I will do the same for you. @lovemyhouse.
@BetNC, I am more likely to make silly mistakes if I push myself too hard. Someone with a healthy back could do what I have done with the tractor in only a day, but the bouncing gets to my back after an hour or two. I luckily have use for an unlimited amount of time, within reason. One of the things I hate about renting equipment is that I try to get the most use out of the equipment in the short time I have it and often end up hurting myself. A recovery day is much better than being down for a week because I pushed too hard and strained something. I've gotten to where I simply don't care anymore if people think I am being lazy.
@shadygreenthumb, it amazes me that your DH can still walk, must be all that physical therapy in the garden.
MK has an another doctor's appointment on Monday so it looks like we will take off Tuesday. My SIL mentioned camphor trees and what sounds like potato briar to be cleared. Oh boy! Somehow, I'm sure, we will still manage to have fun.
If anyone knows anything about therapy gardening for those with Altzheimer's, I would appreciate hearing about it or getting links, if there is something online.

Thank you, Jim.

@Seacanepain, Dh went through 2 years of PT 3 days a week. At first, he had to be driven to PT and all other appointments and entered using a wheelchair. But as he got stronger, he drove himself and walked in on his own. I venture to say even though the surgeons cured him of cancer, it was the Physical Therapists who taught him how to walk again. I could go into how his body mechanics are now compared to what they were, but really you are right, it is nothing short of a miracle that he can walk at all. He will be picking up a new leg brace this week and there will be more PT to follow to make sure he doesn't create bad habits while walking in it. Along with his ability to walk, his muscles grew and he basically out grew his old leg brace. They already know they can't keep him down. It's the yard work that keeps him strong and feeling useful. I don't have to tell you, the best therapy to be found is in your own back yard, literally.

@AmargiaExp @SeaCanepain

Hey, Kay and Jim...snowdrops.

those are pretty.

Jim, I got them from you and Kay.

Well if they came from the south you need to call them by their Southern common, Dewdrops.
We just got back. We accomplished most of what we set out to do. There was a palmetto by the fence we could not get out of the ground. But her palm garden is taking shape. those dewdrops are being spread far and wide. we installed a 4 season bulb bed too. She said it felt more like a home now. That made it all worthwhile to us.
Nadine is in a tizzy Fenny has started having epileptic like seizures the episodes only last about 2 minutes and she is happy otherwise and she gets vanilla ice cream after a seizure. She is still a happy pup 99% of the time but Nadine is a real mother Hen! we are hoping it is just an allergic reaction or she knocked her noggin if it is one of those she will get over it. the only dogs i know of that have epilepsy are golden retrievers. She is a mut, but I don't think she has golden ancestors.
We did not come back with nearly as many plants as Nadine feared. there just 6 new additions.

As a "mom" to a golden retriever that had epilepsy I can understand Nadi being in a tizzy. It's terribly frightening and all these thoughts go through your head about their life span being shortened. I was ignorant and vet told me she can never go swimming by herself now, she could have a seizure in the water. I certainly wouldn't have known that!! Many different kinds of breeds can have seizures though.

I hope I can post finally. Our CenturyLink hub has been down for repairs.
@lovemyhouse, I stand corrected. I've been informed snowdrops and dewdrops are not the same flower with two different common names. Snowdrops are the ones that bloom first in January and February here and they are Galanthus nibalis . Dewdropsis the common name for both Leucojums, L. vernum and L. . awstibum All three look a lot alike to me, especially the two dewdrops (Leucojums) Snowdrops, snowbells, spring snowflakes, summer snowflakes and dewdrops... Kay has it straight in her head, but she isn't on as many painkillers. I told Kay I would do like miss Helen did and call them all Bells of Ireland. The Galanthus can be first bell, the spring dwedrops second bell and the misleadingly named summer dewdrops or summer snowflakes third bell. She said that would be even more confusing since there is a similar looking spring annual with the official common name bells of Ireland which is probably why Miss Helen called the perennial bulb plants by that name. (sigh) It's a good thing I just got a buzz cut or I would be pulling my hair out. Well, they are all welcome signs of spring whatever they are called.
Fenny hasn't had a seizure in 24-hours. She is eating hypo-allergenic Blue Buffalo dog food and drinking Culligan water. I guess dogs develop more allergies with age just as people do.
I also stand corrected by Nadi. She tells me only Victorian women had tizzies...when they weren't swooning. She will accept mother hen though.
I think we will leave developing gardens for those with Alzheimer's to trained horticultural therapist. We will help by providing a beautiful place to unwind for our friend with Alzheimer's gardening caregiver and a calming place for the man, himself, to be.
That is sad about golden's and epilepsy. Many of the best service dogs I'm acquainted with are golden retrievers.
@drdawg, Is your back surgery going to keep you out of business this spring or will you be mailing out your tropical's?
We didn't get as many pics as I planned. We were too tired to stop and explore much on the way home.
#1: The people in the neighborhood are slowly phasing out camphor trees, but they still have a ways to go. I can understand why they were originally planted. They do have bug repellent properties. Camphor basil works just as well for that purpose though and the invasive problems can be avoided.
#2: A braided bougainvillea.

Thanks for asking, @SeaCanepain. I am slowed but have shipped out all the orders that have come in. During the winter months I can ship out almost nothing, so now is the time that my business "begins again".

Yes, Jim, they are welcome signs.

@seacanepain I'm sorry about your dear Fenny. My little Chihuahua had them. It is, hard to watch! The vets tell me the littje ones she has are not painful. I like to believe that. She is just 2 yrs old. We also use Blue Healthy Weight. Already she has dropped weight. She's on meds daily and it has helped. She hasn't had a seizure in 6 weeks. Knocking on wood. They say 1 seizure a month is too many. DH is certain that her extra weight had something to do with the seizures though the vets say nope. But as soon as she dropped weight the seizures stopped. She runs and plays like a puppy again! So, in June or Juky, as long v as she is free of seizures, i will start reducing her meds very slowly to test it his theory. If he's right, she won't have to be on meds the rest of her long life.

There is not much going on specifically to physically challenged gardening, but the early season daylilies are blooming thanks @lovemyhouse

Not much going on here. I have finished all the Spring Cleaning both in the yard and in the house. I think DH has decided rather than help he is in the way. But not really! I do call on him every one in awhile to sit in his wheelchair and start my weedwacker or hold the ladder for me. He sits in his chair and tunes up my engines, or does small woodwork projects, too.

We have been looking for a power washer. Electric since I can't pull start much of anything anymore. He suddenly got this burr up his bottom saying we need to get one "now" while at Home Depot today. I asked why the sudden hurry? I wanted to do more research on the features available. He said he wanted to get the tree fort clean? That must have been the drugs talking becauase that tree house hasn't been power washed since he built it 23 years ago! Besides, he thinks HE is going to be using the powerwasher he's got something to learn! That thing would thrust him in his wheelchair into outer space since he never uses the brakes! LOL

Oh Cheryl *giggle*

ShadyGreenThumb said:Not much going on here. I have finished all the Spring Cleaning both in the yard and in the house. I think DH has decided rather than help he is in the way. But not really! I do call on him every one in awhile to sit in his wheelchair and start my weedwacker or hold the ladder for me. He sits in his chair and tunes up my engines, or does small woodwork projects, too.

We have been looking for a power washer. Electric since I can't pull start much of anything anymore. He suddenly got this burr up his bottom saying we need to get one "now" while at Home Depot today. I asked why the sudden hurry? I wanted to do more research on the features available. He said he wanted to get the tree fort clean? That must have been the drugs talking becauase that tree house hasn't been power washed since he built it 23 years ago! Besides, he thinks HE is going to be using the powerwasher he's got something to learn! That thing would thrust him in his wheelchair into outer space since he never uses the brakes! LOL

I have a mental image...if it should happen...have the camera ready.. They pay for things like that! 😝

My news garden helper planted out my marigolds (I've been pinching off buds for awhile before so it's with no special wonder that some sre already in bloom!) She also planted out my zinnias and asters, but I don't know how they're faring, since they are on the side of my apt. and I can't see them from the windows. I have celosia under lights right now; I had just sowed them when I fell; although they got no attention while I was hospitalized for 3 days, I came home to find little inch tall seedlings!!! I'm debating ordering more seed, since I need 77 seedlings / plants and I've now got ~60 and a few of those might not make it.

About my fall / hospitalizxation: I was tying up my 8 tomato plants (in containers on my back porch) and was standing up , to re-position me / the chair for the last 2 plants. My knee buckled, I missed the chair and fell to the concrete. I broke one of the wing-thingies of one of my vertebrae in my lower back (thankfully, one vertebra above the ones previously operated on!). Ambulance, hospitalized for 3 days and then sent to a "rehab" center. I spent one memorable night and waited to call my Granny to come rescue me until 8:01 am; I was "incarcerated" for about 18 hours. Now I'm house-bound but I intend on watering and tying up my tomatoes later today.

These are my flower seed;ings, mere hours before my garden helper planted thema week ago. (The tomatoes *I plantede, since they went into 13 inch tall containers / Earthboxes!)
Marigold Naughty Marietta


Zinnia Zahara Starlight Rose


China aster Tall Pompon White


The Tomato Jungle version 2016: The Beginning

Yeah, a pressure washer and a w/c without the brakes on could get way too interesting.
We are still working to catch up from last year when we wre not able to do much. Potting up iris and the excess bulbs to give away.
We did get two new large planters set up. Now it's a mattter of painting the outsides and deciding what to plant this late in the season.
This has been the longest, coolest spring since I have lived here, byt summer has definately arrived. I'm hugging the AC today.
Photos: I think the daylily is 'Mama's Cherry Pie' and Nadi took what I thought was a cute pic of a resident anole.

This is a video for upcart...it is an interesting looking cartthat seemsto navigate the stairs and stone paths pretty well..not sure what it takes strengthwise to move it though

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

@BetNC Oh, Bet I'm sorry! I was tired and meded up when I put on my last post. I guess you know all about the meds now. Ouch!!! This had better be the best tomato jungle yet. Are you using a wheelchair, walker or cane now. I'm thankful the fall didn't damage the work that had already been done on your back.

That's a good cover story, but confess! What were you really doing when you got hurt? Did some fiendish plan to take down the apartment managers draconian rules go haywire?

@MISSINGROSIE That is a great link. Could be very handy indeed!

Kay created a three sisters planting today just for looks and fun. No Creek or Cherokee would recognize it as their influence. That lady is determined to grow organic corn. No fish was sacrificed for her project, but a lot of cows did what cows do best to make it possible and there is fish emulsions from the nursery to make sure. 'Peaches & Cream' corn, pole beans, yellow crooked neck squash and a mammoth sunflower in the center of it all and it's in a container. Admittedly, a very large container, but a container. Kay is determined to have organic corn at it's ultimate sweetness. She claims that means stalk to steamer in minutes. It's all for that one taste of primo corn!

I can't tease her much about the impracticality. I bought a Empress Wu hosta knowing full well that this is a marginal climate for hostas and I think the Empress is the biggest hosta there is. . I'll need to get out the slug and snail bait and any voodoo charms I can come across to make this work. I snagged some of Kay's organic corn soil mix for the Empress. I want her to have the best.