Saturday, July 2, 2016

Land O'Milkweed

I will, one day, get to planting these. Just another day of siding, and another day of painting the siding, and then one more for the door, save at least another five for the deck, and just one or maybe two for the steps. Maybe then I'll get to planting these. But only after I dig around the outbuilding and install the groundhog barrier, and dig a trench for the drainage tile, lay the tile, and machine the fill until it slopes nicely, and once done I can excavate the gravel so it can be reapplied in layers, each compacted, so the concrete floor that also needs to be poured won't crack, which would be a shame because we cut two inch foam and placed it all around, or at least we will in August, but not before the exhibit is hung. I ought to make more work for that show, and I did say I would take my photos to the printer for printing, and there's framing, then, but after that I can plant these milkweed. Although it won't be in July, because the show, you know, but also the class I teach, in Vermont, and the lecture to give, and the prep for each. September is a good time to plant these, the fall -yes, but only after the electricity and heating is put into the outbuilding, because it wouldn't be sensible to frame for insulation in September if there is no heat to insulate, but after that I can get to planting these milkweed, well before it freezes. Could it wait just a bit more, because the brick walkway needs to be laid, especially before that freeze. Is it time to blow the leaves? Well that mustn't wait, and after all, with the cleared leaves there will be a clearing in which to plant these milkweed, so that will be a good time to get to these. Will there be a freeze? Oh, well I should get the garlic in, and wrap up the last of house painting, and who wants to work stiff-fingered in the cold? It'll best be done, as soon as can be, but first I need to put up the walls and install the lights, because what is a shop and studio without walls or lights? After that I can probably get to planting these milkweed. You know, it's been warmer, later, more often than not, so I'll get to these on a nice fall day, a warm afternoon, but only if there's nothing left to do that needed to be done, more so, anyway, than planting the milkweed.


4 comments:

  1. Whew! i'm exhausted just reading your to do list. renovation takes so much time and effort, especially if you want it done right. hang in there. The milkweed will probably enjoy a nice winter in the greenhouse and then you can plant them on a sunny April afternoon.

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  2. You are an ambitious sort. And, if your milkweek is any relation to the common milkweek that has persisted for decades on our 1/2-acre (despite my digging it out until I realized, yesterday, what it is), it will be patient and just fine. If relaxing is in your repertoire, you might consider trying it a bit this holiday weekend. Oh heck, I'm just feeling guilty because my Minnesota-born-and-raised husband is outside toiling...and I'm not! Leslie in Oregon

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    1. I think relaxation is in order for the remainder of the weekend for me anyway -can't speak for my MN born wife! I've got several kinds of milkweed, but the common one you speak of is quite a spreader.

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