Let me begin by telling you I am one of the world’s worst gardeners. I love other people’s gardens, but my own efforts fail. Miserably. Sometimes I can keep a hanging basket of flowers or a container herb garden alive for most of a summer, but everything I plant in the ground dies before its time. Some years I optimistically try again, other years I ignore the yard completely (babies, unborn or newborn, make a dandy “excuse”).
However, my front yard has one large bed and two smaller beds, which are mostly planted–by a previous resident, of course–with perennials (those are the ones that come back every year, right?). Our first summer here, Baby Boy was still a baby and so I ignored the yard. Last year I kept up with weeding for awhile, planted hanging baskets that lasted most of the summer, and planted a couple perennials (dead–of course). This year I ignored the yard as long as I could, but a parishioner came over to help Twirly Girl plant annuals which made me feel guilty enough that tonight I finally headed out to weed.
I spent all of my time in one of the smaller beds, and still need to remove more grass. How is it that grass grows in the flower beds, but not in the back yard? I also pulled thistles and removed old iris leaves and dead grass (ouch! those seed heads are pricklier than thistles). I guess it really is true that a weed can be defined as something growing where you don’t want it to grow.
I had a few philosophical thoughts relating weeds to bad habits and other struggles in our lives, but those will have to wait for another day. . .good night! 
) The vegetable gardening isn’t a new idea for me, but I’ve never tried it before and found some ideas and encouragement that might make a small plot finally happen. I figure I’ll start with tomatoes and see how much marinara I can get. 
