Gardening day

Wow, back breaking work!   I was up before 6 and eventually got started outside.   There was such overgrowth from the vines et al. That it was almost impossible to walk along the side walk In front of out house.   So I spent the morning with a few 50 ft extension cords and several power tools:  hedge trimmer, weed wacker, blower, hand clippers, and a rake.   Filled up two large boxes full of debris.  It looks a bit more clean now.
After that I finally tackled the remaining flower bed.   I had dug up the first bed several weeks ago and planted all herbs:   Thyme, parsley, both curly and Italian, cilantro, chives, oregano mint, basil, and rosemary!!
They are doing well.  BUT each day I have to keep up with weed pulling.

The second bed has been overgrown with weeds, a sickly looking  rose bush, some native prickly spiny plants and more weeds.   It took all morning till about noon to get all that crap out.  I filled up my garden cart to overflowing with all that mess.  
Initially, I tried to save some and replant, but it was just too difficult to get it out of the ground.

So I dumped it all.  As I dug, I found some seashells that someone else had collected, so I cleaned them up and showcased them in the new bed.
I have a frost resistant Gardenia. I can't wait for the fragrant blooms.  She is at the far end, so as you walk to the porch from the parking area, it will be a nice scent! Then three orange reddish lantana. Butterflies love these. Hopefully, these will fill in like ours did at our last house. Now that was zone 8b and this is 7b.  So significant growing differences.   I just looked the first freeze is a month sooner, too. Will have to remember this and make pesto earlier, too.


Oh and the local garden place was having a sale on day lilies.  They can be expensive, but I got 11 for about $5 apiece.    I love the showy flowers and I'm pretty sure they are perennials.  

It was a great day to do garden work except that it was WINDY.  We have a wind sock up on a dune and it was at about 15 knots all day.  Probably gusting  higher.