Thanks, Steve. We're on year three with maybe one more year to go.
Pulling weeds and digging holes are great stress relievers! Last year when I had contractors here for 6 months and was supervising it all myself, i pulled every weed on the 10 acres.
This year I'll dig trenches, I guess. Actually I do need to dig shallow trenches around the flower beds up near the house. I'm putting bricks in the ground level with the soil so i don't have to edge the beds, but can run the lawnmower right up close. Hopefully the grass won't invade the flower beds as badly either.
After we dig out and repair the foundation on the west side, then remove the brick and windows and replace the same brick and install new windows, then I will have a new area for a rose bed. That side of the house gets so hot that the brick buckled and pushed the foundation in, causing huge cracks, making the basement flood. Once we have the brick laid correctly, the roses and a pergola I have planned just might be enough to block some of the heat. I hope to plant grapevines along that side, too.
We have a south-facing slope that I hope to plant in grapes in a few years. I've been visiting with vineyard owners in Kansas and California about types of grapes, and there's so much to learn. I think instead of spending time taking any more classes or even reading, I'm just going to rely on advice from successful growers. According to the people I've talked to, I have the perfect site and soil. There's a great winery near me that will buy the grapes if I plant the varieties they need. Sounds like a fun project to me! Wine and roses, great combination!
