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Saturday. It’s a beautiful day, sunny and warm. I spent half morning doing yard work and I plan to do a bit more later. I never know when it’s going to rain again and for how long.

A couple of days ago I used the chainsaw to prune my rhododendrons. When I moved here they were as tall as me and they looked really nice and perfectly trimmed. I tried to keep them nice but it seems that once a year trim is not enough and you need to be constantly working on them. And that’s not for me. I don’t particularly enjoy gardening. I can’t say I hate it because sometimes it’s rewarding. Only sometimes. I love when I can notice my work. At least, most of the times.

Here is how my rhododendron bushes looked on Thursday morning.

And that’s how they looked in the afternoon.

I have to admit that using a chainsaw could be a bit addictive. Soon you start seeing things that “could go”.
For example, a few branches of my beautiful magnolia tree.

I thought the tree was stressing because those branches were going to touch the ground soon. I also disliked when I was mowing and the branches got tangled in my hair or went in my eyes.

What I didn’t consider properly was where I was going to dispose the things I cut. I thought I could throw them behind some bushes. Impossible.

That pile is 5 x 5 x 3 m (16 x 16 x 10 ft). It’s huge.

I can’t hide that so I ended up ordering a garden shredder. I think I’ll have many hours of work ahead. Spreading the triturated branches should be easier.

I still have to do the pine trees in the driveway. I’ll wait until I get rid of that pile to make a new one.

It’s hard to believe how much time it’s needed to keep the yard tidy. I see many of my neighbors raking, collecting yellow leaves, mowing, edging and cutting dry flowers every time I go out. It’s a f#$king never ending job. And it’s also exhausting.

I still remember the landlord saying: “The previous tenant couldn’t keep up with the yard work when she became a widow”. No kidding. I’m almost half her age and after mowing I feel I need a lung transplant.

~ by DotedOn on September 10, 2016.