I enjoy a wide variety of daffodils on my property. None planted by me but all appreciated. I ran around and took photos of everything. There are lots of the standard variety: yellow bell surrounded by yellow petals. Here in Oregon those grow wild all over the place, including people’s yards.
Pedro and I are lucky to live in a place where someone at some point put a bunch of fun different types of daffodils into the soil.
I finished a small project that addresses a few problems for us. One is that we have buckets, boxes, and bags of pretty rocks that belong to Kellen and I have been carrying these things around for years. Since we moved here, they have been sitting beneath the rhododendrons in the back yard, being an eyesore. Two is an area of rocks at the end of the driveway that used to be more piled up, but has been sliding into the clay and becoming embedded and ugly, and is hard to clean leaves and sticks out of. Three is two additional piles of the same kind of rocks in different places in the property that we have simply left lying because we don’t know what else to do with them.
My idea was to build a wall and fill it with rocks, and put Kellen’s pretty rocks on top. It would be a prettier way to store them and a way to consolidate all our rocks and to keep the driveway rocks out of the mud and more compact.
I got the idea to put a container there with something growing. It addressed one more problem: we need to move some roses out of the way of where we eventually want to have a path. I dug up one rose and put it into the pot and added it to the pile of rocks. I wish I had thought of it earlier and thus set the rose pot lower, but…too late now.
Kellen’s rocks were even more back breaking work, because they were filled with five years’ worth of dust and spiders and dead leaves. I cleaned all of them, then put them into the pile. I assumed they would fill to the top of the bricks and they did not. Well, they still look nice.
There were unbroken geodes, broken geodes, quartz and so many kinds I cannot identify. Just gorgeous gorgeous rocks.
The next step is to spread small gravel across the muddy space left here. We have lots of that kind of rock too, in the back, and will be needing a place to put it once we begin rebuilding the raised garden beds.
Conscious Engagement 
No garden is complete without a problem area that you work on, and work on, and then work on some more. Yours is shaping up very nicely!
You are right! We have problem areas, but I think it’s more “areas that could be improved.” We don’t need raised beds, or a path through the roses; we simply want them. :o) I think having projects is fun for both Pedro and me, even though the work dismays me sometimes.
Quite creative Crystal. I love your new rock garden and the problems it solves. I bet Kellen is pleased to see her rocks on display. (Taking care of everything kids leave behind for ‘future use’ can be a bit of a challenge. We are still dealing with stuff 30 years later.) I don’t know if you remember that Peggy was passionate about gathering quartz rock from the hill behind us and decorating our yard with it. Being the mule, I remember it well! (It looked nice.)
Ha ha!! Of course, as the mule, you would remember the rocks you carried! I sent photos to Kellen, but have yet to hear feedback about it. Kids. Gods bless em. I am glad you know what I’m talking about, with the burden of holding onto things that belong to the kids. It was easier at the Rainier house that you guys saw – acres of unused land and a great big shop that had lots of storage inside, plus a giant garage. I was too eager to be helpful and took on all that stuff when I lived there. Now I have much less space and need to get creative. It feels good to have solved some problems. Yesterday I found another pile of rocks that has been annoying me. I dug them all out of the dirt, moved some of Kellen’s pretty rocks and dumped the other rocks in, then put Kellen’s rocks back in place. It was nice to have a ready solution.
We had both Tony and Tasha wander through our house and put stickers on our stuff that they would like to have. And insisted that they take their stuff that they wanted. The latter didn’t work 100% however. Tasha’s been easy now we live next to them in our apartment. I can box it up and put it in her living room. 🤪Tony has been more of a challenge living in Florida. Still, we’ve sent four boxes or so his way.
It’s a start!
What an excellent collection of rocks! Is there a story to each one? I once had the idea of collecting rocks from each location we took a hike, but I soon learned it’s a criminal offense to take rocks (or anything) from a National Park, so since we hike a lot in NP’s, that idea went nowhere. Good on you for creating such a beautiful corner space. It looks really nice!
Oh thank you for saying it looks nice. I think it does. The retaining wall (with the greenery) needs to be rebuilt, but for now it’s fine. I think the whole space looks more tidy now. These particular rocks do not individually have a story. Kellen has a degree in geology, and when a fellow geology student moved from a house into an apartment about six years ago, gave all the rocks he had collected to Kellen, who had the idea to make jewelry out of them one day. Kellen also lives in an apartment, but has a mom who does not! ha ha.
My Grandfather and his wife brought home a rock from all of their overseas travels, which were many, and then when they built their home, put all the rocks into the wall in their primary bathroom. I love that idea. I wish they would have written all the stories down before they sold the house, but I am pretty sure they did not. They also asked all their relatives and friends to send rocks. I was living on Shemya Island in Alaska at that time, and sent a collection of low quality jade that I found on shore. Those also made it into the wall, but on the outside of the house. One day I think I will stop by the place and ask the owners if they want to hear the story of the stones I do remember. 🙂
A fine rescue from the baby shower and excellent repurposing of Kellen’s rocks; a fine range of daffodils
THank you Derrick! Like three small victories!
Your yard looks beautiful with those perky little daffs. I always pay close attention to the harbingers of spring: trillium, Western skunk cabbage and daffs. It’s like they are all whispering Hallelujah!
They are whispering it and so are we! I have spotted the skunk cabbage on our walks in town. So far, I have not made it to a trail with trillium. Forest Park has them, and I imagine Tryon Creek and maybe even Cooper Mountain do. I am less diligent about getting myself to wilderness as often as you do. Instead, I have these amazing giant city parks to explore. 🙂 Trillium are always a favourite.
I love how you now have a spot where you can appreciate Kellen’s pretty rocks. Like you say, they are seriously pretty. It also brings joy to my heart that you embrace spring with such enthusiasm and new projects in a time I know is also difficult for you to be living through with all the chaos in the US. I’ve glanced at some of your previous post, but as I am leaving for Lisbon today for a quick visit to SA, I’ve been so busy getting everything ready for the house sitter, that I haven’t been a good follower. Wishing you a spring filled with fun projects and blessings.
Jolandi, your comment is personal and hit home. I teared up when you mentioned “with all the chaos.” I forget how close to the surface it is, every day. I put energy into not thinking about it, and actually fool myself for moments here and there, that life is ok. It is so hard to live in this country that I thought I knew, but I apparently don’t, when so many – so many – of my countrymen are still blind to what is happening around the world as a result of this maniac in the White House. People STILL make excuses for him, and his destructive policies. I am embarrassed that my country is responsible for more suffering around the world. Like, for example, your plane tickets I assume, are more expensive than they would have been otherwise. Hopefully you bought them a long time ago. Have a GREAT time in SA, even if it’s quick. I have not been trapped as you have, but I still savor the freedom for you to leave Portugal and go home and see your family. Such a small ask, but so hard when it’s denied to you. I am celebrating that you can do this today, no matter what other challenges and inconveniences happen along the way.
Getting exciteable about Spring projects is something that I can’t really help. The joy fills me and inspires me, and I just go with it. I’m older, slower, but whatever. I am going to ride the wave and have fun. Pedro and I won’t get everything done that we hope, but we will get some of it done, and that’s a victory. But regardless: It’s Spring! Things are changing colour, pushing through the dirt, blossoming, smelling so good, sounding so enthusiastic (the birds!), the air itself changes, the wind is more kind, the sun is more supportive… I can’t help but let Earth move me with her.
I bought my ticket a week before the war started when Turkish Airlines had good airfares for April, so I got lucky at least in that regard. Keep doing those things that brings joy to your heart and distract you from the horrible things happening that you have no direct control over. Big hug.
Exactly. Thank you. ❤