Watching my garden grow

Once upon a time, in the not-too-distant past,

my backyard looked like this:

(I think every backyard

wants a dog in it.)

This is Rosa.

If you stopped by, she'd come right up and say hello.

This is Tuco.

He would keep his distance. He's shy.

Our house faces east, so the 

backyard at twilight is magical.

The ground under our house is a hard, packed clay.

So I like to grow ornamental plants in pots.

I love color.

My favorites are hydrangeas.

These came from the backyard.

I think everyone feels

just a bit more peaceful

around growing things.

But...

(It's hard to post this picture. It captures the neglect so well.)

My yard is so sad right now.

While I've been growing, 

it's been dying.

I can hardly bear to look at it.

Tuco is more tolerant.

So...

My spring pledge is to fix it up.

The way it wants to be.

The way it should be.

So we can once again take advantage of our weather.

I have a helper I can enlist.

Not to mention,

summer's on its way.