The weather has finally turned nice in the Kansas City region so my day was spent in the landscaping section of several home improvement stores, picking up entire trees, flowers, garden supplies, and landscaping features. We ended up going everywhere from Lowe’s to local businesses to find what we wanted. I’m exhausted, and can hardly move, but it is a good feeling. The only thing left to do are a handful of small maintenance items, and then have the lawncare people change the location of one of the sprinklers so they don’t saturate one of the rows of roses.
There are hanging plants that have to be kept shaded. They attract hummingbirds, which are cool to watch.
The custom hangers we made after going to the garden center and picking out plants …
I was responsible for potting the Calla Lilies, which were mostly going in this giant green glazed pot for the upper balcony in the back, which looks over the forest.
The Knockout Rose Bushes are a variety of rose bush that flower all the way until November, in almost all weather, require very little upkeep, and will eventually fill the area so large that you won’t be able to see the edge of the sidewalk or the stone barrier. They will come back every year. By the time they are done growing, this is what they will look like.
It got late so we had to give up and will start in on the project tomorrow morning …
I am a builder at heart. Investing, teaching, farming … it’s all the same. I like seeing things grow. It’s the same temperament applied to different areas of life.
This exhaustion feels so good right now. It’s almost like a runner’s high. Improving things is awesome. Find something in your life that could be better and then make it better. It sounds simple, and it is. Just do it. Even if no one else appreciates it, you’ll get satisfaction out of having made your corner of the sky nicer.
The best way to do it is just to go. Take action. Pick an area to upgrade and jump into the project. By the time you’ve made progress, you’re committed to finishing it and too far gone to retreat.
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Reader Comments (9)
Comments are presented chronologically, with replies indented beneath the comments to which they respond.
Paarthurnax
April 22, 2013
Inspiring! Love fuscia's, definitely my favorite hanging basket flower. Just a little word of caution - that yellow plant in the background of your calla lillies photo looks like forsythia. We used to have one that was about 8' tall and around 16-18' wide. I'm not sure if there are smaller varieties that you may have picked that would work better in that small area than what we had, but just going off my past experience, it might require a good bit of attention to keep it trimmed to size in that small area. Just a heads up =)
Chris
April 22, 2013
If you didn't already, I'd put some weed barrier down around that strip of rose bushes otherwise you'll be pulling weeds out of the mulch in no time. Should only take 30 minutes or so once you buy a roll of weed barrier, cut it with a razor (so it can fit around the bushes), pin it down, and cover it again with mulch.
Joe Pierson
April 22, 2013
You might consider some cedar raised beds for veggies, looks great compared to most home gardens.
Joshua Kennon
April 29, 2013
Replying to Joe Pierson
I love how those look. I need to find a way to incorporate them somehow, especially in the back by the river.
FratMan
April 22, 2013
Joshua, what do you think of Jim Cramer?
Joshua Kennon
April 22, 2013
Replying to FratMan
I think he is probably a very nice guy, and as knowledgable as he is about individual businesses, I'd probably enjoy talking to him at dinner just like two baseball fans would like to discuss the current lineup of the Yankees, but his on-air approach isn't my style. Ironically, I more identify with how he manages his personal money while on television - he put it all in cash generating assets, with a heavy focus on real estate if I recall correctly, so there wouldn't be a conflict of interest.
I'm much more laid back than he is, just due to temperament. It's not better or worse, just different. I'm going to be the 80 year old sitting in the armchair by the fireplace with sterling hair, a cashmere sweater, a watch I bought at Borsheim's when I was 22, scribbling over a printout with a pen I bought when I was 18 talking about, "Oh yeah ... I bought a block of that 50 years ago. It's worth a heck of a lot more today. Good times, good times. Hey, did you hear about that new moon colony?" I like permanence, or at least what can pass for it in this ephemeral world.
I do find some of his behavior when running his hedge fund, according to his own statements, repugnant. I couldn't do it. I have no desire to spread false rumors or create trading activity ahead of a stock. I want to value businesses, buy what I can, and let the company make money for me while I focus on living my life. The results are volatile, but that's too damn bad. It causes me no loss of sleep.
Joshua Kennon
April 29, 2013
I'm not sure what type it is but I'll keep an eye on it; thanks!
Joshua Kennon
April 29, 2013
Great suggestion - I appreciate it.
Stephen H
September 3, 2015
Ever try Hybrid T roses? We found they couldn't handle the winter in Canada and its windy but man did they look good. Delphiniums have replaced them in my wife's side garden.