Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Garden Destruction

I'm ripping up my 1500 square foot garden. It hasn't worked right since the start or been what I hoped, and there are just far too many animals that are eating things. And the crows and blue jays wake me up in the mornings. Just too much to take care of finally for how busy I am with work and writing.

So sod is coming back in. I'm sure most will hate what I'm doing, but it should help the house sell faster whenever we do move, and it'll blend back in with the rest of the neighborhood finally.

Au'revoir jardin.

If anyone wants to dig up anything, you have until March 15.

16 comments:

Dirty Girl Gardening said...

ohh the devastation!

You are right though... new home buyers love sod.

mr_subjunctive said...

Well, all is not lost: obviously you still have all your houseplants, right?

Kelly said...

So sorry to hear about the garden...but thanks for picking my post on blotanical. We really do have 48" of snow. I love to see good writing and gardening hand in hand...I guess now I'll have to settle for the good writing. Nice to know you.

Lynnminny said...

If I really believed this was true I would have to activate my "twitch" and come after you.

Randy Emmitt said...

Benjamin,
Real estate agents are full of it. You garden has lots of charm it will sell your place to someone that sees the potential if you leave the garden.

James Golden said...

So it was a first or second draft of a garden. I wonder what the next one will be.

Benjamin Vogt said...

Ah, my friends, Lynn caught me. A family misunderstnading of some silly thing led me to an early April Fool's post. I adore my garden, but I am thinking of tearing up 100 feet out front that has never quite worked for me. No twitches necessary to hit me with, no 48" of snow to punish me (though I once was in a 30" storm on Halloween), and my my my less sod the better! I do wonder what some potential buyer will think of all these plants some day--even if I insist 1-2 hours a year is all they really need.

Benjamin Vogt said...

And Mr. S., no houseplants. Sorry. MY wife has some, though. Not like you--that'd be, well, too eccentric.

Barry said...

Benjamin:
So I can turn the calendar back to February again?!? Nice that you are keeping the rest of us on our toes! Methinks you would have confronted a posse [sp?] were to to consider such actions, but them a human shain link fence in the sideyard wouldn't be all that bad now would it? Lots of company when you are out in the garden.... but then I think you probably revel in the solitude a garden offers.

Helen/patientgardener said...

Goodness that is dramtic but better to do that than to have a neglected garden

Anonymous said...

Ah, thanks for that. Glad I waited to respond until you came clean. Tearing up part is good, tearing up all and putting in sod is unacceptable. We have had huge crazy gardens in every house we have lived in all over the US. It never stopped the sale and we always got full price. You just had to wait for the right buyer, and do the tour yourself of the house AND the garden, pointing out the special things growing there. Every single sale was when I happened to be there, usually hanging around out back when the realtor brought the prospective buyers buy. Why we decided to be there, who knows, but every single sale came about with me telling what was good about the house. Just a hint when you get ready to sell. Although you are going to have to work on that snotty attitude! HA

Noelle Johnson said...

Well, I have to admit, that I would probably do the same if I were you. At least you can spend your extra hours not spent on gardening, planning your new garden in your new home.

Les said...

I read this when you first posted and am glad I came back for the comments. I thought you had gone over to the dark side. Unless you are talking about prairie sod, sod is a dirty little word.

Benjamin Vogt said...

Teza--Revel in solitude doesn't even begin to explain it. My garden rocks my soul! Please call the posse back, unless they are a fan-based posse.
PG--I fibbed. I fibed badly.
Frances--I like that idea very much of staying out back so I can explain things. It's not that hard to take care of, I'm just out there putzing a lot so it looks like it's hard. I will walk the new owners around once they buy the place years hence and give them all of my charm.
Noelle--I really did fib. My new home, years from now, will be 100 acres. Watch and see. I may have to win it in a poker game though.
Les--Hey, I keep thinking I'll see snow pics on your blog. Any snow by you or just out of reach?

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Well, Benjamin,
I still may have some plants you'd be interested in. Did you get rid of your extra plants yet?

Benjamin Vogt said...

Sue--It was a joke, a lie, an ealy April Fool's thing. I love my garden. A plant excange might be nice, but I feel awfully full / unsure of what I may want or need, and my garden is still so young I won't be dividing until next year I think. I'll check out that other LNK blogger you mentioned, thank you!!