Category: gardeners

Pyracantha and the Path to School

Posted in memoir, California, smoking, school, gardeners, deer, fences, trash, school district, photinia, pyracantha, shortcut, weed, native plantsLeave a comment

(re-run) When my kids were 14, 11 and 6, we moved into a huge house that bordered the school district’s property. The middle school sat to the right of our backyard, and the high school sat to the left. Only a chain-length fence and a hedge of Photinia separated its property from ours. I called… Continue reading Pyracantha and the Path to School

No Christmas Tree for Me

Posted in Bah Humbug, Christmas, dinner, divorce, family, food, gardeners, Grinch, humor, outdoors, pink, thrift storeLeave a comment

(re-run) Eight Christmases in this house and only two trees. Both were living, and both got planted in my yard. Guess what? My yard is full. That’s what happens when you get rid of your grass, fire your gardener, and watch volunteer trees grow on their own, self-planting trees with a little help from the… Continue reading No Christmas Tree for Me

Apple Tree

Posted in apple tree, dog park, dogs, fences, foundation drain, gardeners, landscaper, memoir, tree hugger, trees, wheelbarrowLeave a comment

(re-run) You know it’s apple-picking season when the dogs start bringing in the bruised ones and then growl at each other. When I bought the house, I inherited the apple tree. I didn’t realize how prolific it was until one day, after the gardeners left, I noticed a line of fat apples sitting on my… Continue reading Apple Tree

Pyracantha and the Path to School

Posted in California, deer, fences, gardeners, memoir, native plants, photinia, pyracantha, school, school district, shortcut, smoking, trash, weedLeave a comment

(re-run) When my kids were 14, 11 and 6, we moved into a house that bordered the school district’s property. The middle school sat to the right of our backyard, and the high school sat to the left. Only a chain-length fence and a hedge of Photinia separated its property from ours. I called the… Continue reading Pyracantha and the Path to School

Apple Tree

Posted in apple tree, dog park, dogs, fences, foundation drain, gardeners, landscaper, memoir, tree hugger, trees, wheelbarrowLeave a comment

(re-run) When I bought the house, I inherited the apple tree. I didn’t realize how prolific it was until one day, after the gardeners left, I noticed a line of fat apples sitting on my side fence. One of the gardeners had picked them with the intention of taking them home, but he must’ve forgotten.… Continue reading Apple Tree

Living with a Ratter

Posted in concrete, dogs, dry rot, gardeners, handy woman, memoir, rat guy, rat terrier, rats, shed, vector controlLeave a comment

(re-run) The change in the weather is the time to handle the rat situation. How does one know she has rats under her house? Just ask any terrier who might happen to live with you. Terriers were bred to find and kill rodents. Daisy is Jack Russell terrier. I didn’t know how bad my rat… Continue reading Living with a Ratter

No Christmas Tree for Me

Posted in Bah Humbug, Christmas, dinner, divorce, family, food, gardeners, Grinch, humor, outdoors, pink, thrift storeLeave a comment

(re-run) Eight Christmases in this house and only two trees. Both were living, and they got planted in my yard. Guess what? My yard is full. That’s what happens when you get rid of your grass, fire your gardener, and watch volunteer trees grow on their own, self-planting trees with a little help from the… Continue reading No Christmas Tree for Me

Living with a Ratter

Posted in concrete, dogs, dry rot, gardeners, handy woman, memoir, rat guy, rat terrier, rats, shed, vector control1 Comment

The change in the weather is the time to handle the rat situation. How does one know she has rats under her house? Just ask any terrier who might happen to live with you. Terriers were bred to find and kill rodents. Daisy is Jack Russell terrier. I didn’t know how bad my rat problem… Continue reading Living with a Ratter