Thursday, December 10, 2015

Mulch time

Odd as it seems, the arrival of a load of mulch is pretty exciting for a gardener.  Today is mulch day.  We are also getting sand and compost.  Our soil is lovely Carolina red clay.  The garden beds have to be heavily amended to be fertile.  We, of course, compost, but that is not quite enough.

The sand helps break up the clay, so that the soil will drain better.  The compost adds nutrients.  More compost, less added fertilizer.

The mulch will help protect my perennial roots from freezing, if we get a long cold snap, and will reduce the weeds next summer.  The hard work this week will pay off come next summer.


My avocations due blend together.  Thinking about flowers, I am considering doing a large appliqué quilt, something in the style of a Baltimore Album.  I am rather new to appliqué, but I have been practicing.  Here are a couple of blocks I have made.  I did the one on the left first.  I see definite improvement in the second one.

Mouse update!  We caught one.  For several days the mouse had taken the food out of the trap.   This morning we had him.  Not sure if this was the only one, so we will continue to put the trap in for a few days.  Not many people have to check their mouse trap before they drive.

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