Artkansas 

I got introduced to gardening by my ex wife. It wasn't the usual kind though. It was xeriscape gardening. We had a giant tequila bush in our back yard, a beautiful blue agave. We also had edible cactus, and our neighbor had a desert apple trees that put out delicious but delicate apples in the middle of the summer heat. We baked them into delicious pies for him (and us). The birds loved the plants in our back yard and we often had 7 species or more there at one time.

My proudest achievement was transplanting a native Palo Verde tree that had sprouted in our yard. I moved it near to the neighbor's yard where their overwatering would help it grow fast, eclipsing their hisbicus bushes. When we left that house, a contractor moved in, and apparently ripped out much of the yard, and let a rare 20' tall orange tree die. But the Palo Verde tree thrived. I feel good because the tree was one of the trees that had been growing in that valley since before history, and many were being ripped up and replaced with non-desert plants. The tree might live for 200 years and it's children will flourish as the people abandon the neighborhood because there is no longer enough water for them. So I feel as though I helped a native species survive. What could be better than that?

Tom Bombadil

My wife loves to garden.

I also love fresh, locally grown produce. That's why God invented Farmer's Markets.

Doohickie

To give the wife something to work on when I'm riding. Of course.

Jean Beetham Smith 

To build upper body strength for cycling.

Billy Bones

It's the privilege of existing in the same space that the old gods inhabit. To be puzzled by that response is to be denied understanding; by definition. No amount of rational inquiry will shed light, alas.

Oh, and it's the tomatoes!

BengeBoy 

I get the whole food-from-the-earth thing. I come from a long line of farmers. I spent many, many hours driving one of these when I was in my teens and 20's.




The *best* thing about wheat harvest is that there is typically room on the armrest for a Coors beer.

However, if you try to take a beer out in the garden with you it keeps falling over in the dirt.

So I'm still not buyin' it.

Dellphinus

Gives the rain a purpose, and provides fuel to power the bicycle.

Sheesh...

Rick@OCRR

Don't Panic.

The Earth is mostly harmless.

Rick / OCRR

rae

Had a similar experience: went by my old house in Encinitas and saw that the 3 avocados, the plum, the cherimoya, the apricot, the loquat--all gone. There is a big new house in their place now and very little yard.


My garden gives me a lovely place to relax after my ride--until the mosquitos notice that I'm there and alert every nasty little bloodsucker in the city.

Louis

If I don't cut my grass soon, I'll be looking to rent one of those things.

BlazingPedals

Plaid!!!

Oh, you mean this isn't a Netflix commercial?

BengeBoy 

Here you go:

https://combineforums.proboards.com/i...gi?board=acres

Sluggo

Gardening has long competed with cycling for my time. "Sluggo" refers to both my speed on the road and my garden nemesis.

They have many of the same attractions. Time outside with the weather and the seasons (and rain does not send me to the movies); healthy exercise; creativity of garden design or mechanical problem-solving; the anticipation of the results of hard work. And tomatoes. And mountain tops.

cccorlew

Flippin' gardening.....
I've attempting my first ever.
this morning I went out and found my cucumbers, and melons gone. Eaten to the ground by something. I'm not sure whether it's a critter or bugs.

Today I installed a drip system, replaced plants, but anti-bug junk about, and built screens to go over them.

We'll see how that works. I'm no hoping to get my tomato cost down to $15 each....

Next year: Farming will be left to farmers.

DnvrFox

I have officially been declared a 'HAZARD TO PLANTS" by the ASPCP (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Plants).

They have an injunction preventing me for planting any seeds or potted plants or similar, or being within 10 feet of any living flora.

unterhausen

I think the store bought ones are getting worse and worse. Cherry tomatoes are the only ones I can stand, they still taste like real tomatoes.

Booger1

To make money and eat things that actually taste like something.If you haven't ever tasted tomatoes straight from the garden,you don't know what your missing.Those red things is the store ARE NOT tomatoes.You might as well eat the vine they grow on,it's just as ripe.

You can grow tomatoes,cucumbers,peppers and other goodies upside down in hanging 5gal buckets.No critters will get those.

BengeBoy 

OK, I have a lawn care tip to share with you. We all know that owning a gas-powered mower is God's way of telling you that your yard is too large.

However, this I just learned -- if you own an old-fashioned reel mower, and you haven't had it sharpened in 8 years, it really is worth having it sharpened. Trust me on this.

That's all I got.

Retro Grouch 

Interesting.

The house that my daughter recently rented has the back yard covered with artificial turf. I guess they must not get enough rain in Seattle to keep the grass green.

cyclinfool

Just got in from cutting the grass (for the second time this week!). Next thing on the chores list is buying plants for the planters we put on the front step. Gardening does result in something pleasant to look at or eat (we do tomatoes only) - but I don't go overboard.

Then, finally it will be 35 miles and 2000' of climbing. After all that the better half will get a nice dinner for Mom's day which I will cook - her request this year, crab cakes like I use to make her when we lived in Va. We will see if I still remember how to make them.

oldster

Its someplace nice to look at, while sitting on the patio, enjoying a cool one, after a nice ride along the Platte river or along the Highline canal where you get to look at everyone elses great gardens..
And The SanMarzino tomatoes are great on the pizza, along with the fresh Genovese Basil . Then the Humming Birds come to dine on the Penestemons and Salvia, and top The day off..

Bud

stapfam

Just had to re-organise the bike shed. Due to restraints in the garage- The mower lives in the Bike shed- just tucked inside the door

BUT- Son-in-law has just finished with the shredder so that has come back to its rightfull owner- The Rotavator that was out on loan was returned a couple of weeks ago to make it easier to re-lay the lawn of one of my neighbours- and is not going back to the person that has had it on loan for the last 6 months. Then one of my neighbours cleared out his garage and has returned the tent he borrowed a couple of years ago.

So I now need a gardening come potting shed so that all the gardening stuff can get out from under my feet.

And a tip for anyone with a slug problem- Used Coffee grouts put round susceptable plants work wonders. Not as much as a Double Diamond would but only the British would understand that one.