It always has.

This is the 4th time I have bought a place to live. I have never lived in a house that was brand new, although the house in Mebane had a yard that may as well have been. That was part of why I loved it. I didn’t have to wait to see what the previous owner had done before I could get my hands in the dirt.

Because I’m not sure what has already been planted here, I need to wait to see what comes up. There are clearly things that were put in intentionally. But, I have no idea what they actually are or when they will bloom or anything about them. I have planted a few bulbs I lifted from my former yard in places that I’m sure are unoccupied. And I stuck a rose campion between an azalea and the front walkway.

Waiting to see what can go where is an exercise in patience that I struggle with.

I have joined the Landscape Commitee for our HOA and the next meeting is in October. I can’t WAIT! The spaces underneath the balconies in my section are naked. Like, not even grass. I really want to talk them into seeding with native wildflowers.

In Spring, I intend to put some native bee balm in a little area in the strip in front of our parking spaces. I may put in some cardinal flowers, too. There’s a little patch between the burning bushes and a couple of azaleas to the left that already had a bitty rose and and an hydrangea blooming on the day we closed. I have already planted some callas there.

I’m not sure what I can do under the stairs in front. There are a couple of hostas there, already. They’re oddly spaced and kind of stunted. I have no idea if they were planted by the previous owners to add curb appeal or if they are actually established plants. I’d kind of like to recreate the shade garden I had started in Mebane. But, I need to see how much rain actually gets under there first. We do not have access to a garden hose for watering anything. Water goes out in a pitcher from the kitchen sink or in a bucket from the bathroom.

Adding before I post: We had a shower this afternoon. Made it easy to see where the rain hits and where watering may be necessary. Right under the decks doesn’t get enough to grow anything. But, half of those spaces could be seeded. And under the stairs is not really going to get much at all.