|
I’d like to advise you on the benefits of staying in shape or perhaps more like getting back into shape for the coming spring season. Now, if you diligently follow my instructions your body ought to be in good working order and ready to plunge right into your early spring garden clean up next year, right? Yes, well, we’d all like to think that, optimists that we are.
This past winter I did follow my own advise. ( Now there’s a miracle!) I pumped iron, did my yoga and Pilates and I even did vigorous aerobics. Oh, yeah, baby! I was ready for anything. Then came that wonderful two days in March when I actually stepped out of my home and didn’t instantly turn to ice. The sun was warm. The sky was clear, bright blue and oh, so inviting. And there it was! The first sign of spring. My crocuses came out to greet me. I was so happy. I left my laundry room in a shambles. I shunned my next book-in-progress. I even decided that left-overs would have to do for tonight’s dinner because my garden was calling me.
I made a once-through around the entire garden a few days before. This is my winter ritual. I wander around to see what horrible things the winter brought on us. That way I know what needs to be done, what should be planted, what should be cut down, what area needs a total over-haul, what needs mulching and how much money is all that going to cost. Actually, that part I never think about for too long. It’s just too depressing and I tend to like being happy. I’m just funny that way. Thus, I was armed with the overwhelming knowledge of all the work I had to do. The list, had it been written out on paper, would have rivaled Santa’s Good kid/Bad kid list. Thankfully, I’m not that organized. Seeing that on paper might have made me hide out until June.
I thought I’d start slow, just some leaf and garden debris removal to start with. I knew this reprieve from winter was only temporary. I’ve lived in the Poconos long enough to know we were due for a late-in-coming Noreaster.
“What are you nuts? It’s already the middle of March. We won’t get anymore snow. I can put that plow away now.” my delusional yet cute-as-can-be Tommy told me.
“Don’t do it, Babe,” I replied. “We almost always get some snow for April fool’s Day.”
He was skeptical but he shrugged and said “Okay, we’ll see.” (Come April 8 we got six inches).
I couldn’t use my garden tractor because the ground was too wet and I knew I’d get stuck on my way to the compost pile to get rid of all those leaves I planned on removing. I had to use one of the four wheelbarrows we have. I went in search. They were gone. Who would steal my wheelbarrows? Why, Tommy, of course. They were all in our newly-erected pole-barn full of sundry stuff. Okay, on to plan B. I grabbed a large trash receptacle on wheels. It worked great.
I wheeled it over to my front yard, grabbed my radio setting it to some rocking tunes and got to work. Oh, but it was nice being out in the sun. Have I told you I’m sun-powered? Well, anyway, I am. The sun energized me more than the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders energize a group of teenage boys. Ah, youth! But I digress.
So, for those two glorious days I worked in earnest in my various garden beds trimming this and that and pulling dead flower stalks, leaves and tennis balls. Yes, tennis balls. My boys and their friends love to play hockey in the driveway and they constantly lose tennis balls in and among my flowers and shrubs. Gotta love them. It’s almost like an Easter egg hunt for me, only not.
On the day after my garden exercise I was glad for the chilly, rainy weather. Why, you ask? Well, it seemed that even though I thought my biceps were ready to haul heavy branches to and fro, even though I stretched every which way and had built up my stamina I still awoke wishing for a nice soak in my whirlpool. How can this be, I hear you ask? I blame over-enthusiasm. I just don’t know how to ease into things. I was outside for six hours each day. Killer stuff!
It became apparent that vigorous exercise even an entire hour each day through the winter months is nothing compared to six hours of “gentle” gardening. If I keep going I’ll be buff by the end of summer. Best diet and exercise program ever.
Is there a reason I’m telling you this? Of course! Take my advise, people, and take it easy. You don’t want those hamstrings hurting now, do you? I didn’t think so. Happy Spring!
|
Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 To find more on gardening visit
http://www.helium.com/user/show/32782.
Didn't really find what you were looking for?
|
|
|
| |
|
|
![[Valid RSS feed]](images/rss.gif "Subscribe to our XML Feed for RSS")
(Read 500+ times)
