Stupid me--I went on vacation...

16 years ago

How does any gardner go on vacation. I was gone for 10 days. The first 4 days I had a neighbor water for me (she's a gardner too so that was good). The last 6 days it was my husband's job. But there are so many things that I take care of everyday (like weeding oak seedlings) that didn't get to. Nothing died, thank goodness. But then I came back and was sooo tired and watering plants I left on a side sprinkler for almost 20 hours! ACK!

I'm never leaving my precious garden again!

Of course, if we would just get some darned rain!

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Comments (10)

lynnencfan
16 years ago
My husband I don't like to be away from the gardens for more than 3 days. We have created our own little piece of paradise and don't need to visit exotic locals - we have it all here....

Lynne
zigzag
16 years ago
ROFL - I so agree. Gardens can be but another way to avoid leaving home, if one wishes not to leave home. Between my gardens, house plants and - biggest reason/excuse - puppy - I've got it covered. And a hex on anyone who challenges me !
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shari1332
16 years ago
I have to go on a five day trip June 23-28 and I'm really stressed about it. I haven't been away from home for more than a day and a half since I've been here. All my potted plants except for large planters are going to my mom's house for daily watering. Between that and packing and worrying about the pets I really don't think it's worth it but DH insists that I go. It will also be my first time on an airplane. Woe is me!
dottie_in_charlotte
16 years ago
I was gone for just over 3 weeks including the jet lag time I couldn't even LOOK at the yard. Never again.
The lawn and front beds are on sprinklers and I had the heads turned towards the beds in the back yard so watering wasn't the problem.
Totally missed the peonies blooming,darn it. Every single dammmmm elm seed has sprouted and the wood sorrel(I think)is everywhere and probably seeded twice in my absence. I'll never get rid of the stuff!
Every lawn in the neighborhood has some sort of fungus. Dead yellow patches surrounded by dark blackish green grass and it's because we all use the same lawn service.

Could be worse though. I could have had a beautiful vegetable garden and been gone and missed the harvest. My Dad and Mom would plan their trips around the pea and green bean harvest times but often they couldn't. They'd arrive home exhausted from driving and have to go straight to the garden, pick/prep and can or freeze.
All I had was a gorgeous crop of lettuces ready for me.
dottie_in_charlotte
16 years ago
Oh, and heaven forbid that Dad didn't get to the lima beans before they got beyond the baby size my Mom insisted upon. I'd see him pull up a whole row of limas,unpicked, because they got too big and mealy.
trianglejohn
16 years ago
I like to go on vacation and I've been known to be gone for almost a month but now that I have the garden and the best dog on the planet it really changes things. I have invested in automatic watering devices this year and I'm installing an elaborate system of soaker hoses just to be safe. Besides the flowerbeds and veggie garden I also grow plants to sell at the farmers market and plants to be used during the fair in October so I have a lot of busy work spread out into all four corners of the property. In the middle of all this I get many phone calls begging me to come home (Oklahoma) and help out with the health-crisis-riddled parents. Something I've been doing since the fall of '05. Last year I drove back 5 times - thats 22 hours one way. Now it looks like I'll be heading back to the prairie again this summer. On top of all the plants I've taken in an aged and sickly dog that belongs to some friends who got moved to France for the summer. How many ends does a burning candle have??
jeane
16 years ago
I know what you mean. I hate to be away because I miss some of the plants blooming. It seemed for the last 3 yrs I've missed the Fresia and Tuber Roses bloom. Never again. To some eyes I don't have the most wonderful garden in the world, but it's mine and I love it.
And John, if you want me to keep the dog while you're away (if someone can watch him/her on the weekends)just let me know. Goes for anyone else who needs a dog lover to watch your dog. I am dogless at the moment and would enjoy having a "loaner"
When I flew up to Jersey this past weekend for a 150+ family reunion I was worried about my unplanted plants. So I put them in my trusty plastic toboggans with about 3 inches of water. They did great, 1 even bloomed. Just remember to put the shady plants in the shade and sun lovers in the sun.
Sooo dry in Garner,
Jeanne
tamelask
16 years ago
well, i'm lucky because john lives so close by- so we swap plant and critter watching when we go out of town. i couldn't leave my garden or babies in better hands. jeane- john almost always takes tami with him for company. we take care of his cat. i always worry about how much work i'm leaving for him and try to consolidate it as much as possible, but having the break is really refreshing. i appreciate it so much more when i get back. i love my garden and birds, but am glad to have a break. i'm always bummed by what i missed or something that died, but that's ok- that always happens anyhow, and having the vacation is so important for our well being, as individuals an as a family. for our summer vaca, we normally are gone for around 10 days. i really don't mind watching his stuff- it gives me a chance to really look at everything and get an inside glimpse of another's garden.
herboholic
16 years ago
For my herb garden, we went to Home Depot and got one of the Micro Watering systems (very reasonably priced).....a 12-hour cycle timer and a lot of 1/4 tubing with drip connectors. It keeps the containers watered nicely, but not sopping wet. For the boxed-in areas, we have micro-misters, two on each side that spray a 180-degree arc. Does very well.

We decided to do this before Memorial Day, knowing we'd be away for an extended period to the coast, and knowing the garden would suffer with the temps in the high 80s and 90s and no water....and no rain in sight.

So far, so good. I really like it. And I didn't have to worry about my herbs and citrus while I way away. That alone was worth the whole thing.
herboholic
16 years ago
For my herb garden, we went to Home Depot and got one of the "RainDrip" Micro Watering systems (very reasonably priced).....a 12-hour cycle electronic Aqua Timer and a lot of 1/4 tubing with drip connectors. It keeps the containers watered nicely, but not sopping wet. For the boxed-in areas, we have micro-misters, two on each side that spray a 180-degree arc. Does very well.

We decided to do this before Memorial Day, knowing we'd be away for an extended period to the coast, and knowing the garden would suffer with the temps in the high 80s and 90s and no water....and no rain in sight.

So far, so good. I really like it. And I didn't have to worry about my herbs and citrus while I way away. That alone was worth the whole thing.

Stupid me--I went on vacation...

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lynnencfan

zigzag

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