As many of you know, we've been renovation our backyard. We've been working on it for over a year. We let it go for over five years and the bamboo and ivy that was planted before we bought the place just went crazy!! Shortly after the covid shutdown, I sat in my yard and thought, enough of this!! I want my yard back. Read on to see our evolution, or jump to the bottom for information on planting a lawn.
When we started renovating the backyard, there was a sidewalk that went along the roses, under an arbor, and out to the shop. You couldn't really see it though.
After we excavated, the sidewalk got pulled up and the arbor fence started dropping slats.
I laid old rugs down to try to kill any weeds by Spring and when the dust settled, I stared at the old arbor and had a vision. I've always wanted a gazebo tea house. Why not an arbor coffee shelter? And I was on a roll!
Did you know that playing in the dirt is good for your mental health? Science says it is.
I've noticed over the last year, as I've working in my yard and planting seedlings, that my overall demeanor is different. I'm calmer. I feel less stressed.
And when I miss a few days of dirt, I get tense and cranky. I've thought it was just the relaxing sounds and feels of being outdoors. But that's just part of it.
Science has found microbes in soil that cause the brain to produce more serotonin, a neurotransmitter that sends information between the nerve cells. It effects mood and emotions to name just a couple functions. As you work in the soil, you inhale the microbes into your body and they do their thing in your brain.
It's been a busy Spring so far. The garden is growing like crazy! We should have peas soon and I've already harvest a radish!! The raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are full of blossoms and fruit.
We planted the grass and then the rain started. Lots of rain. Finally. And as I work in the yard, get my hands dirty, I am moved by how my entire mood changes and my body connects.
I've almost finished planting my garden for this year. I still have some cucumbers and tomatoes to plant - and a zucchini. I can't find a plant!! But I will.
And the raspberries are loaded!! Last fall I put in two blueberry bushes and they are going strong.
The warm weather gave the radishes a push! I'm really looking forward to the harvest.
Do you have a garden? What have you planted?
Covid. One little word that has changed the course of the world the last year. We've been forced to stay away from friends and family and live in semi-isolation. It's been so hard on so many people. I consider myself one of the fortunate.
I've used the time to work on my house. My husband and I have laughed together, watched movies, created gourmet meals and eaten them by candle light.
And now we have the vaccine. For me, this represents light at the end of the tunnel. For many it seems to mean we're out of the woods. But we're not. There is still a lot of tree cover we have to move through.
