Gypsum, Tramps and Thieves

I have no excuse. 

I haven't been depressed so much as distracted....Granted, it's been a VERY nice distraction, but once again I have been neglecting my garden!

It's been frighteningly beautiful here in SoCal.... no wonder so many damn people live here! 

Today is no different from the rest of the week: 78 °, not a cloud in the sky,  and for once, none of those crazy winds! Practically obscene for December 28th, I know, but, what can I do?

I made a lot of progress on my last work day and because we've had NO rains, the area is still relatively weed free! Hooray!

I'm not going to lie to you, this isn't paradise here on Earth. Although we are blessed with extraordinary weather, when it comes to soil, we are pretty much damned. Like most of the folks out here in the Inland Empire, we are indeed cursed with sandy, clay soil. 

Over the years, I have spent HUNDREDS of dollars on garden soil. This year I don't have the money to spend on such things but as luck would have it, I did find half of a bag of gypsum. Like most things on this property, I'm not sure where it came from, but, hey, I will gladly put it to good use! For those of you who don't know, Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) is one of those rare materials that performs in all three categories of soil treatment: as an amendment, conditioner, and fertilizer.

It kinda rocks!

I agree, that today I didn't exactly stomp terra in the way of progress.... it's all about the baby steps!

"Here's wishing you the bluest skies,
And hoping something better comes tomorrow."

Under Reconstruction

2011 has been a year of bitter change for many of us...
It was July when the world I lived in came crashing down around me. Everything stopped. As a result, my garden met with the same neglect that I was feeling. My pride and joy slowly died off and became overgrown and filled with weeds and despair.

 As the days turned into months, Summer faded into Autumn, my beautiful garden had turned into a pitiful and unwanted mass. I could no longer bear to even step outside. It was painful to look at. And just as I could no longer look into a mirror without sobbing hysterically, I turned my back on my garden. As if looking away and ignoring the problem would make it disappear. It didn't. I had truly lost my path.

The voice of reason was all around me. Loving advice from family and friends eased my pain momentarily but always that dark and familiar force would return to drag me down into the depths of a Hell that I had created. I even felt guilty that anyone should be wasting their time over me... Everything was askew.

Today I walked outside with a cup of coffee in my hand and took a good hard look at my garden. Perhaps it's not as bad as I thought. 
Hundreds of California Poppies have already got a head start on Spring. 
Daffodils are poking their way up through the soil. And the Geraniums are absolutely vibrant in the cold morning sun.
Today I sat down my coffee, picked up a shovel and began the process of Reconstruction...