My Green Thumb Morning

I've known it was coming for weeks...the time when I would have to get out there and try to salvage my pathetic yard so that the neighbors would not talk about us behind our backs. Last year, after having delusions of grandeur, we attempted to plant a glorious perennial garden in our front yard. And why shouldn't we? All of our neighbors have flawless perennial gardens. We even called my brother--the landscape architect--for advice. We purchased 150 plants (from a catalogue--all half off) and spent many, many back-breaking days hauling out the hideous rocks and planting in their stead our precious tiny green things.

What we didn't count on: Rabbits! To sum up, only nine of the 150 plants ever grew to fruition, no matter how much we sprayed, sprinkled or sent Steve out screaming with his hoe (eerily resembling Mr. Mac Gregor). We were devastated.

I learned something valuable last summer. My next house will have NO flower beds. Just lovely, neat grass and shrubs. And the easiest way to add cheer and color is in the form of (drum roll, please)...hanging baskets and pots! Those are the two solutions to my gardening woes. So this morning I decided to document my pursuit of gardening-made-easy. Here's how it went:

First I dropped Laura and Lincoln off at school. I told them I wanted to take a picture of them in front of the school.

"No way," said Laura.

"Yes. Get out there and stand over by that sign."

"Okay. But you have to stay in the car to take it."

"No way. So you'd better hurry if you don't want anyone to see."

Followed by a frenzy of "Hurry, Lincoln! Hurry! Hurry!"



Then Noelle and I drove over to Lowe's. Here is Noelle in all her morning glory (or stupor) sitting in the cart.



The hanging baskets are the easiest! And Ha! I've foiled the rabbits!



This pot took all of ten minutes to get from "Blah" to "TaDa!"