Why relaxing in the garden is so exhausting

[Primrose]

Thought I'd just spend a couple of minutes standing in the garden after lunch before having a cup of coffee.

What actually happened...

1 I spotted a nimber of missed sideshoots on some tomatoes so had to nip them out and ended up tying up several plants that had shot up like beanstalks

2. Walking to the compost heap with sideshoots I noticed a big clump of oxyalis weed I couldn,t ignore so went to find the trowel to dig it out.

3. Having dug them out realised I couldn't put it on the compost bin so went to find an old pot to put it in temporarily until I make up my next black bag of noxious weeds for the tip.

4 Walked past the pond, realised I hadn,t fed the tadpoles so went back into to the kitchen for the tub of goldfish flakes.

5. Walking back to pond spotted the netting had come astray off my kale seedlings so went in search of some sticks to anchor it down again.

6. Having done this' noticed more clumps of oxalyis weed which I had to dig out.......which took 20 minutes..

7. Then looked at the patio pots and thought "These look a bit dry. I'd better water them or the plants will die"

Where are all these people who actually manage to RELAX in their gardens ? The moment i. sit down in a chair to enjoy the sunshine I immediately spot another weed or find another task which simply has to be done!

[Diane]

I agree.

I find it's only possible to view the garden, and not attempt to fiddle with it, in the depths of winter. Any other time...forget it...pop out there for a little potter and I'm not seen until it gets dark

[Pa Snip]

Oh so true.

Other fatal mistake is just
"popping into the garden centre for a look around"

One used credit/debit card later !!!!!

[Primrose]

Pa Snip. Been there and done that one too. How often have I seen a plant or flower I've fallen in love with, bought it on impulse and then got it home and thought "Now where the heck am I going to find an empty space to to plant this?"

[Westi]

Understand completely Primrose!

Don't know why I put table & chairs on the allotment - the table is pretty handy for putting seedlings on & sorting the seeds out, & the chairs are the right height for rummaging in the seed bag & putting my non lottie clothes over the back of, so clean & less wrinkled for the bus ride home. I've even given up making hot drinks now as find myself tidying the shed while the kettle's boiling & having them go cold as I get distracted with another wee job I spotted.

Westi

[Ricard with an H]

I'm in good company then ?

I can only sit and relax when I'm hurting and wrecked, usually around 3 in the afternoon after being on my feet all day I can sit and enjoy a beer. The beer makes me more tired so I retire for the day. Otherwise I'm exactly as described by Primrose, multi-tasking all the time.

[robo]

Im sat looking up our field in spain trying to relax but i can see around 10 days of strimming that badly needs doing that alone makes me feel tired out as well as it being 35 deg. In the shade , a good friend of mine passed away over the weekend with a heart attack at present i feel like every thing is a waste of time

[Primrose]

That,s sad Robo. Such events do make us question the fragility and purpose of life, but it,s also a good reason to make the most of every day, although not necessarily when it's 35 degrees in the shade! I suppose there comes a time for all of us when the heavy gardening chores get just a little too much to cope with but often we manage to trim and tuck, redesign or scale down so we can keep on doing the gardening habits we enjoy.

[Pa Snip]

Chin UP Robo

Some have read the situation I am currently going through.
I may, or may not, make it to the end of the year.

I could sit back on my bum and say that's it there is no point in my working on the allotment now,
however I have taken the opposite approach and said keep going, derive pleasure from the achievement

Its never easy when a friend passes, but I hope you can draw consolation from having known that person and the fact they are not suffering now.

Hope you regain some inspiration soon Robo

That's my bit with my Worzel Gummidge 'serious head' on done with

Back to dealing with my own problems with my 'lets have fun and some humour' head on

[Primrose]

Chin up to you too Pa Snip. I enjoy your regular contributions so you and your family have to keep going through the days of uncertainty. We're all urging you on!

[Pa Snip]

Primrose, no words in reply to your post

just

xxxxxxx

[Westi]

A wonderful positive attitude Pa Snip! I agree with you entirely about celebrating achievements no matter how small, plus the added benefit of being outdoors on the allotment is like your own bit of nature's paradise! I'm sure it gives you time to reflect, balance and accept.

We will indeed support you as best we can, hopefully the little posts on here will give you the a laugh but more importantly I think the fact we are a small forum who give advice, take advice, get the odd small criticism for our stupidity but come on here almost daily shows we are band of brothers (& sisters) with a shared passion!

Glad you're sharing it with us.

Westi

[Pa Snip]

Thank you Westi
The support on here, not just on gardening matters, is wonderful.
I certainly enjoy the laughs, even if they do cause me to dribble more

We are indeed a band
and very often we are all on the same tune,
Have you noticed though that some are playing the right notes but in the wrong order (ok I nicked that joke )

[robo]

Pa snip, i wish you all the luck in the world, my problems are tiny compared to yours , its coming down in buckets fulls here no doubt tomorrow will be blue skies and within 2 days the weeds will be twice as high as they where this morning what a good job i did not start strimming as i would have to do it all over again, i think i will have a couple of days weather watching from my lounger with a couple of cool tinnies

[Pa Snip]

its coming down in buckets fulls here no doubt tomorrow will be blue skies and within 2 days the weeds will be twice as high

And there was I out on the plot in my short sleeved shirt enjoying the sunshine. Temperature was 18 when I arrived and when I went back in the late afternoon around 6ish it was hovering around 20 and lovely warm sunshine.

Robo, If only our veggie crops had the same level of strength and perseverance as the weeds. To be fair to our crops efforts I guess weeds sole aim is to produce a flower and seed. We ask a bit more of the veg plants

The other thing I frequently wonder at is the seeming growth of stones.
I try to make an effort to remove medium to large stones from the plot whenever I see them. Including by sifting. Yet time and time again a patch is cleared and then the smaller stones left behind seem to become medium to large again in no time.
I've never noticed 'Stone Food' on garden centre shelves