Why I Oughta...

Mid-August is the mid-way point in Summer (even if it feels like way past that for this gardener), so it is a good time to do a check-in on my 2025 to-do list.  Last season, I did one of these 'check-ins' in early September (right around Labor Day) and discovered that I was only able to mark six (6) of my 25 items 'complete' with nine (9) more 'in process'.   Where do we stand this year?  Let's find out: My 2025 to-do list included 25 items (25 for '25): 1. Gravel Path Improvement. In Process.  I did the biggest part of this, but still have the 'gate back' portion left to do.   2. Make the Pizza Oven operational. In Process.  The groundwork and retaining walls are done, but there's still a tarp on it.   3. Expand and plant the Island bed in front. Done.  I've done A LOT up here, but haven't planted everything I was planning-to.  I'd like to get a mass planting of grasses to finish this up for the season. 4. Finish garden e...

My 2023 yard and garden to-do list had 25 items on it and with most 1 of the growing season behind us, I thought it would be helpful (for me!) to do a mid-season check-in.  How am I doing against my priorities?  What do I need to do before the season ends?  Let's run through the list and see how we're doing: 1.  Evergreens.  I wanted to plant more evergreens.  I've planted 19 evergreens so far this season:  five Boxwoods in front, a Columnar Scotch Pine tree in back and now 13 more Boxwoods in back.  I also transplanted a large Boxwood from the front-to-back.  So..20 evergreens including one transplant.  I'd say... Done .  2.  IB2DW Extension.   I wanted to extend the bed and add 'clustered evergreens' along with other things like grasses and annuals.  I haven't added anything, but I did amend the soil with biosolids and carved out some turf to extend the bed a little bit.  I'd say this is: Incomplete.  ...