WILL I DO IT?

I spend hours outside removing plants and weeds that grow in the pathways. If I only had to do it once a year that would be OK but I seem to do it continuously. We play hopscotch out there, jumping from one stone to another in order to avoid plants.

For some reason the plants seem to prefer the gravel between the pavers: probably because they enjoy a cool root run beneath the stones.

I make resolutions to keep the pathways cleared but somehow I just can't do it. Of course it isn't surprising. Just look at this blanket flower. Now could you pull that out? It has been a staunch bloomer throughout the summer and will likely still be blooming come the spring.

This is the area behind the vegetable beds. It is impossible to walk there without stepping on plants. Gomphrena, marigold mint, salvias and grasses compete with the blanket flowers.

And this is what is to come: California poppies. I have a feeling they are going to get pretty trampled when the tank gets leveled in the spring.

My favorites are the alyssums and narrow leaf zinnias. I never know what color will show up. The dark purple is my favorite.

Mealy blue sage completely covers the pathway in front of the lemon trees.

All these plants seed themselves so I can be sure they will all be there again next year unless I can stick to my resolution.