I need to clean up the horribly neglected back yard. It needs to be done this week, actually. The whole thing is deeply shaded by a live oak, whose expansive roots keep it rather dry, and it is nearly impossible to plant anything nice back there. I have no inspiration whatsoever, but I think if I can get beds prepped before the spring garden show at the botanical gardens, I might find the motivation to do something with that space.

I think quitting smoking might be easier.

I had thought about starting this very thread a few days ago but I couldn't really think of any garden-related resolutions. Everything requires energy of which I have less and less. I've already canceled two of the three new roses I ordered, with La Reine des Violettes being the sole survivor. She'll replace the always less than stellar Betty Prior, in a location with only morning sun. Not the best rose for my dry garden, but hopefully in its location I can enjoy a few of those blooms that have a color different from anything I have.

So, my resolution is no more new roses, unless Wild Edric is as tough and beautiful as I'm hoping, and he'll replace weaker roses. The other is not to feel guilty or agitated about my limitations, but to enjoy each day as much as possible and to notice the positive things about the garden and ignore the negatives I can't change.

Ingrid

I always make a garden chore list, but that's been blown out of the water by the county digging up my yard (at least I have a built in excuse for my yard looking crappy this year...)

My non-gardening resolution is to be more organized. I'm reading the book 'Getting things done' and am vowing to finally do this. I've already put it in place at work and it's helping.

When I finally get to redo my yard, I will also use the program to help build my new beds.

I don't make personal resolutions because I know I won't keep them. I figure at least I'm being honest about it.

As for the garden I'm with Camp. I never know from season to season what's going to happen in the yard or what will strike my fancy suddenly so I don't try to predict any thing. Just go with the flow. And then there's the weather...No one knows what that'll be like so who knows what will grow and what won't. Year before last the veggies were hard to be found. Last year we had them coming out our ears! The dahlias on the other hand were abundant two years ago and last year some never came up at all and others came up but never bloomed. You just don't know. It make a me crazy!

That's so funny about the hugging Camp. In California there's a whole lot of hugging going on. My husband especially hugs everyone. I understand how you feel.
New Years' resolutions? I really think i don't like them.
I do wish you and others a happy new year.

I think the hugging problem was started by the Europeans who accompanied their hugs with the dreaded cheek or air kisses for everyone. The custom then crept across the Channel to England, and finally on to California, which as everyone knows leads the nation in every fad, while the rest of us lemmings just follow California's lead. Handshakes all around, please. Diane

I stopped resolutions and instead I set a few goals for the year. I have a few long term ones and some short ones. I want to work on the irrigation system after spring flush and a brick path after that. Last time I dug irrigation trenches, my sister said it looked like I hired a personal trainer. I've got digging to do this week and next moving some big roses. It will be the year of the shovel here.

Also, I want to make a line of storage boxes along the shady wall with hinge tops from some free lumber I got and then they can act as a long bench. I need a place for all the pots and watering cans, etc. They live stacked up behind the shed now and leaves fall in and make a mess. I worry about raccoons breaking some of the more delicate pots. It would be nice if I had some gloves and tools and slip on garden shoes outside because I jump in and start before changing shoes or I go to clip a rose without gloves and if they were right there outside, I could just walk over and sit down on the bench and get some gloves without having to go in for the key to the outdoor shed. That spot under the eaves is nice and dry and shady.

The first thing I did this year was to plant annuals along the sidewalk beds so people would have something colorful and nice to look at while I work on digging and pruning and mulching.

Campanula, twice I've kissed a hugger on the mouth because I couldn't manage the alternate kissing of a) right cheek b) left cheek! The first was a Scots woman, the second a Canadian man. Both were as shocked as I was but it was entirely their fault for insisting on this ridiculous custom. We are not Russians!

I was born and brought up in the north of Sweden were firm handshakes were the rule and even curtsies when I was very young. I left early for the south and when I returned years later my old aunts and uncles, all 11 of them, had developed into kissers and huggers. Before that I hadn't even adressed them by their first names, only Auntie this and Uncle that. Suddenly we were on first name basis and kissing wildly. My husband still refuses to kiss and goes stiff as a poker but I am too weak to resist the onslaught. I can do one cheek but not two.

All this talk of hugging is highly amusing - mariannese, your story made me laugh out loud! I can totally relate - it's always so awkward! I too have kissed more than one unsuspecting pseudo-stranger on the mouth, much to our mutual chagrin.

As for resolutions, not so much. However, last year in February I finally had a long-awaited back surgery and now I'm feeling much better than I have in a long long time. So while last year's gardening mainly consisted of ordering DH about, this year I'm really looking forward to getting my hands dirty, getting back into some kind of decent shape, and getting out a bit more with the kids.

Marianese, when ever we would fly back "home" to Bornholm, we would always be greeted with a nice handshake. Well, maybe a hug from my grandmother. By the end of some parties I could have sworn I needed to ice down my right hand and arm for all the shaking we did.

Even saying good bye to her brother for what they both knew would be the last time, it was a handshake.

Just different customs for different people in different areas.