Rain, Blessed Rain

It has been raining for the past 2 days here in Central Texas. We have needed it. And while it is 45 degrees and raining, miserable weather by some standards, I am happy to see it. I dumped about 2 inches from the horse feed buckets this morning. I got their blankets on last night so they are damp but toasty. I am sure they would like to be in the front pasture but that is closed in hopes that some grass will grow. I am tempted to go by some grass seed and put it down today, except that I have a sinus infection and feels like my head may explode at any moment.

I got some plants put in over the weekend so now they can have a nice drink and not get fried.

I am trying an orange tree and a lime tree. I have seen rather large citrus trees in the area. I planted ours near sprinkler heads and on the south side of the house. I am also going to put in a fig tree this weekend.

Our fruit tree totals will be this: 5 peach trees, 2 plum trees, 1 apricot, (not sure how many pecans survived the summer) one for sure, 1 pear tree, maybe 2 apple trees (again not sure if they survived the long hot summer, 1 fig, 1 orange tree, 1 lime tree and then 2 lemon trees in pots and one lime tree in a pot. I want kiddo to be able to pick fresh fruit as he grows up. The orange tree is right outside my office window. I am looking at it along with the sandbox, roadrunners, and happy birds playing in the rain.

A Weekend full of Gardening

I adore busy weekends. They have to be be busy on my terms though. Okay, so I am selfish but I get things done.

It was beautiful so I decided to tackle some of the gardening. I got out my nifty tiller and decided just to till under several beds, whether they had perennials in them already or not. Only the strong survive!! I plan to get some old horse poop from the pasture and till that in next weekend. My goal is to get that clay transformed to beautiful soil.
I trimmed the roses, which is a bit late, but better later than scraggly. I left the climbers and super bloomers alone because they seem to do will without my help. Mrs. BR Cant has so many thorns anyway that I am sure she will take over the garage wall eventually. The wildlife love her, she protects them from Gatsby the killer golden.
The volunteer vitex by the front porch got a new home. I put in on the side of the driveway where an old mesquite fell down a couple years ago. As the vitex grows, it will help shield the horse trailer I plan to park at the end of the driveway. The neighborhood covenants say no trailers visible from the street and hubby is beginning to get irked that it is in the driveway behind the house. It does make it challenging to get the riding mower out.
I am finally getting the sand delivered tomorrow for kiddo's sandbox in the back. I did a dry stack of stones that we got from a neighbor's deconstructed patio and wall. I put heavy duty week block down and we'll put the sand on top of that. I suspect that will be my main project this coming weekend. As Kiddo gets older and tired of the sandbox, my 6X9 rectangle will make a wonderful kitchen garden! It is right next to the rain barrel too so watering will be easy.

I hope I get it done before my friend comes over with her kids for a play date! We could always saddle up Bailey and do pony rides. Next weekend, I will remember sunscreen.