Welcome to AvantaLand

The question is: "When does one's grass become a weed?"

I've spent the morning pulling runners from the sod the builder used in the front yard out of the flowerbeds. While I'm grateful for the squishy, healthy grass we enjoy so much, I wish someone had thought to put down edging between the grass and the beds. If I'm not diligent, the lawn will stage a coup attempt on the foundation plantings. Maybe spouse and I can install a barricade -- in other words, retro-fit edging into place without making the front of the house an unsightly mess. Maybe. I'll discuss it with him later.

In other gardening news, I exercised restraint at the nursery yesterday and only bought $40 worth of plants. Some of them are houseplants (be afraid!) and will go in the master bath. Dill and cilantro were purchased to complete our herb garden. And the rest of the flowering pretties are destined for the base of the trees in the yard, although now that I've been up close and personal with the creeping lawn, I may let that idea go and get new pots for these annuals. Additions to the patio garden to keep the herbs company! Of course, that involves yet another trip to the nursery. Oh. Darn. *grin*

I almost bought petunias, courtesy of antof9's recent post. But I was exercising restraint, remember? If I go back today or tomorrow, petunias will definitely come home with me.

I can hardly wait for the backyard to be landscaped. (*note to self: find out how much longer it will be!*) It will be a bare bones job, I'm sure, just like the front. But I have all sorts of ideas for additional plantings around the fences, and for making color spots, and a butterfly garden, and maybe a hummingbird garden....Gardenias, camellias, peonies, delphiniums and hollyhocks, snapdragons and zinnias, hostas and salvia, and so on and so on....*dream*

The front of the house faces due west, which means it's now much too warm with too much direct sunlight for me to continue working. Even with heavy-duty sunscreen I can feel my skin starting to burn. The perils of 100% Northern European heritage. I can get out there again in early evening, though, to finish any spots I may have missed. And the courtyard has enough shade right now that I can pot the houseplants and get them ready for their new home. After lunch, I think, and probably after a nap. It's is Sunday, after all.

I don't just despise Johnson grass. I loathe it.