I have written about my friend Paree before. She is the one who wants a maintenance-free garden. I have tried to explain to her that every garden needs some sort of maintenance, but she insists that there’s a garden out there somewhere that doesn’t need maintaining.
So Paree decided to sell her house with a small, easy-to-maintain garden, and buy a house with a half-acre garden and a pool. Huh?
Lucky for her she’s got me.
Now Paree’s no dummy. She’s got a couple of degrees from a couple of fancy colleges, including a law degree. She has three kids, so she’s a stay-at-home mom, but like I said, she’s no dummy.
She knows how to tempt me into garden slavery.
She knows what I like.
She invites me over and plies me with coffee and gossip.
She leaves her old rusty pruning shears on the outdoor table where we sit—just a couple of feet from my coffee cup.
She distracts me with interesting tidbits as I absentmindedly pick up the shears and start to trim the hydrangea near her back door. She offhandedly asks me something like “What do you think I should plant in those containers by the pool?” and I reply immediately because the containers have been bugging me since she moved in and she knows it. She is not really listening to my answer; she is just smiling and thinking of her next move.
While we trade more information about this and that and who knows whom, Paree suggests we go peruse the local nursery. She says she’ll drive because she has a big SUV that fits more plants. “How many?” I say. “A lot.” says she. My eyes get big. I imagine filling up her truck with beautiful spring plants for my yard.
Paree knows better.
How did I not see her ulterior motive? I know she would never willingly go to a nursery, unless she made a wrong turn or she was on drugs or sleep-driving or something.
Bravo Paree, you set me up.
You got me to pick out plants for your yard. You saw my weakness for container gardening and you took full advantage.
Then came the coup de gras.
She asked me how she should plant the plants that we bought for her front yard. I start to tell her and Paree adds, “My daughter and I can plant them.” Oh great, her daughter, her darling six-year-old daughter, whom I adore—her sweet, helpful, loving daughter.
She knows I have two sons and no daughters. She knows I love to hang out with her and her daughter. And then I heard it. I heard the words leave my lips and echo in my brain. “I’ll help you.”
So there it is. There my afternoon went. All in all, we planted eight containers and 36 one-gallon shrubs.
And I had a wonderful time.
The containers look great, Chigiy - seeing them empty would have tempted me into playing along with Paree/Tom Sawyer's plan, too.
Please tell me the front beds were already dug up before you planted the shrubs. Turning ground like that from turf to plantable area would take me a long time. The three of may be tired but you also look triumphant ;-]
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Posted by: Annie in Austin | April 10, 2008 at 08:26 AM
The containers look so beautiful...seeing them gives me hope that we may finally have a spring here on the East Coast.
Posted by: Clare | April 10, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Annie,
The containers actually had really sad mish-mosh plants and weeds in them. Paree had had her family rototill the soil several weeks before—thank God. And she dug most of the holes.
Clare,
Thank you.
I here it was a beautiful day on the East Coast today. I am hoping for many more for you.
Posted by: chigiy | April 10, 2008 at 11:47 PM
LOL, we could all do with a friend like Paree. ;-) Those containers look great now and I'm glad that eventhough you were suckered into it, you had a wonderful time anyway.
Posted by: Yolanda Elizabet | April 11, 2008 at 12:33 AM
Yolanda,
Paree is one of those friends that makes you laugh constantly. I love to hang out with her. She is great fun.
Posted by: chigiy | April 11, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Now that sounds like a perfect afternoon's work. Well, more like fun, I'd say (itching to get outside and digging). I love going to the garden centre with friends and having them buy all the things I'd really like to have in my garden. The photograph will keep me smiling throughout the day!
Posted by: kate | April 11, 2008 at 08:17 AM
Kate,
Thank you for visiting.
We had a good time digging dirt.
Posted by: chigiy | April 11, 2008 at 10:09 PM
I covet the containers by the pool. I think I need some shallow bowls like those in my yard. And here I was mentally running through my containers and resolving not to buy anymore!
Posted by: Heather's Garden | April 12, 2008 at 02:02 PM
The truth of the matter is that one cannot have a talented friend and not tap into the resource...wouldn't you give your screenplay to Nora Ephron? Well, Chigiy is my Nora and my empty pots and planters are my screenplay.
Posted by: Paree & My Daughter, Megan | April 12, 2008 at 05:59 PM
sounds like a good time! what are friends for, if not to 'help' us with our weaknesses!! LOL
Posted by: Muum | April 13, 2008 at 08:29 AM
Heather,
I do the same thing. I always vow to stop buying containers and just plant in the ground and I always wind up buying more containers.
Paree,
It's nice to think that you place me up there with Nora Ephron, but I would prefer the Cohen brothers, although I do hate my neck.
You are the best.
Muum,
Thanks, That's why I try to hold on to so many friends, besause I have so many weaknesses!
Posted by: chigiy | April 13, 2008 at 10:55 PM