We spent about half the weekend in the garden, though doing nothing fun. As I said to a friend yesterday when he asked, "I am finishing the autumn work" - even though we are heading into summer. I had raked most of the leaves, but before I could do anything with them, we got a heavy blanket of snow and then well, even after it melted I had other things going on instead.
So, we have been cleaning that up so grass can grow, and clearing the hodgepodge of plants from our back hedge line - for perhaps the first time it has been done properly in twenty years. The plan is to make it far neater in the future buy laying down fabric and then woodchips on top to stop the weeds and whatever else coming through. We will also create a similar area for our growing boxes, as the plan is to have them off the ground to protect them from the wildlife.
Because of the work we have had done last autumn, the yard is mostly bare earth, however with the warmer weather spring is definitely in the air and there are a few yellow crocus flowers appearing under the apple tree. Soon there will be some forget-me-nots under there too, and a few other pretty, wild flowers. It is in the areas where the previous owners "did something" that will cause the issues, as there are some pretty ugly plants around, and for some ridiculous reason, they introduced Japanese knotweed into the garden, which is a pest and impossible to get rid of.
But the work this weekend has been worth it, and the place is ready for some addition, rather than just subtraction. Though, we still need to cart the leaves and branches away first. Unfortunately, we bought our car before the house and at the time were living in an apartment building, so it doesn't have a towball. They are expensive to add, and I have never driven with a trailer either, so we have just been borrowing from friends and family, and asking them to help when they can. Ideally, we would have our own, but for now at least, we will make do.
At times I don't like yard work, but most of the time it is okay because it gives immediate feedback for the effort. Sure, growing a garden takes patience, but clearing a garden just takes sweat, and you can see the effects of actions straight away. There is also something calming about the mindlessness of doing something like cutting out the roots of plants, where it doesn't require any problem solving, just some muscle and energy expended.
So many of the things we do that have "value" don't have an immediate feedback loop, which means it doesn't give that sense of pleasure. It is no wonder many struggle with doing things that provide pleasure, but don't have any value, immediate or otherwise. The doom scroll is one of the mechanisms like this that comes to mind, but most entertainment is pretty valueless long term.
And then of course there is the physical component of the gardening work, though today, I still went to the gym afterward for a stretch and a light weight session to strengthen some joints a bit. My legs are pretty gone, but there is also that feeling of satisfaction as the tiredness is born from activity worth doing.
A good day's work, isn't an easy day's work.
Now though, I am just looking forward to having a cool shower and sitting around a bit, before I dive into writing something with a little more substance. Each day I try to spend thought energy on something that matters, even if my head isn't in the right frame of mind. How I see it is, that no matter how I feel, at times I am going to have to perform at the best level I can - so it is better to practice now and know how conditions affect my abilities. The outcomes are hit and miss, but I am constantly trying to raise the consistency. I don't want to be one of those people who can only perform when conditions are good.
Because in my experience, conditions rarely are.
Taraz
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