INCLUDING THE GARDEN IN MY PHYSICAL THERAPY

No, I did not go outside into the garden. For one thing yesterday was frigid out there and for two I am forbidden. There is not much I can do at home to get back in the garden except do the required physical therapy. As getting up on my feet and walking around is one of the most important things, I took myself for an inside walk around the house, camera in hand.

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Here's the view from the living room with a glimpse of the sunken garden. I managed to trim almost everything back before surgery so there is reasonable neatness there. There is one corner at the back where the Salvia leucantha needs to be trimmed and I think we will need to replace the flowering senna, Senna corymbosa, this year. A late frost last year caused die back of several branches and it is looking far from its best. I never expected the tree to last for ever because it is a fast grower and that usually means weak wood. Even this one was a seedling that grew here after an old one died. I plan to replace it with either a small native tree or bush. The problem will always be finding a suitably sized small native tree.

My succulents, which normally reside on the fireplace, are tucked away in various places including the house.

From the kitchen I can see the vegetable garden where the only thing covered is the bed of peas. David picked at least a pound for dinner last night. Cascadia is my favorite pea and can be eaten in all stages of plumpness. I can also look the other way into the sunken garden. Still quite a bit of trimming to be done behind the pool.

From the hallway I can look towards the potting shed with the bare pedestal on which my hypertufa pot, with tender agaves, normally sits. It is safe inside the potting shed for the winter.

I have lots of herbs growing here. Sage, rosemary, garlic chives and oregano. I couldn't cook without my herbs. If you don't have herbs and would like to start a herb garden you might be interested in the book I will be reviewing later this week, The Herb Garden, A guide to herb growing and culinary uses.

Through the front windows the Lady Banks rose will need a good pruning after her April flowering. The bench which normally sits against the wall is doing winter duty in the garage holding the wall baskets and their draping plants. Still some ruby crystal grasses, Melinis nerviglumis, to be cut back.

 From the link doors I recognize the viburnum 'spring bouquet' will probably have to be removed and replaced with a smaller variety. If you remember we recently replaced the planting in this part of the English garden but I held off on the viburnum until it had flowered. I need to research the possibility of a serious cut back of viburnums. Failing that I will look for a smaller variety to plant at this corner.

From the link doors on the other side the view is into the front garden. I am gradually converting this into a cactus and agave garden with additional low-water use plants. This is the spot where I lost the Whale's tongue agave, A. ovatifolia, last year.

Through the bedroom door the view is into the once named Spanish oak garden. The Ficus repens wall has received its annual clipping. It only remains to deal with the bluebonnets which have seeded themselves between the pavers.

The other view is outside the walls to cedars and little else . We planted 3 Arizona cypress, Cupressus arizonica, var. Carolina sapphire, in this area this fall and will take some of the cedars down to give them more light. This has only become necessary due to the building of a house on the lot next door. I think in the end it will be a good thing as it will allow bluebonnets and other wild flowers to grow here.

Another outside view on the front with the usual mass planting of bluebonnets in the pathway.

Finally I walk into the laundry room. It's hard to evert my eyes from the packets of seeds, cuttings of plumeria, (thank you Texas Deb) new bird house and garage sale finds that are awaiting my attention.

I could certainly get busy sealing the wooden fish so I can find a home for him on one of the rocks in stock tank pond.
The best kind of physical therapy a girl could get.