Visit From the Compost Fairy

Once upon a time my brother asked me what he could get me for my birthday, and I answered from the bottom of my gardener's heart: a load of manure, pretty please.

"I can't give you manure for your birthday", I remember him scoffing. "What kind of present is that?"

Apparently pooh was not an acceptable birthday present. But that was in the days before he became a gardener too. I suspect he'd have a different opinion now.

Jeff and I came home from work today to find the Compost Fairy, otherwise known as Jeff's mom, busily shovelling a truckload of well-aged fish compost onto the side of my driveway. The stuff is black gold in the garden. It's a token of appreciation for Jeff doing her taxes--it's much welcomed...yep, give us a pile of well-rotted fish innards (as long as they're not smelly anymore) and we're content. :)

I spent the early part of the evening tonight hauling it around to my garden beds--eighty buckets worth and then I stopped because my arms told me to and I was red-faced and somewhat sweaty. Also, I hadn't had any dinner yet.



On my brother's blog the other day I read a description of all the work he went to installing a little Zen garden with pond in his yard. He's getting his yard ready for the wedding in July. I seem to recall that he hauled about eighty loads of gravel to the new garden site. My sympathies, brother. I have a new understanding of your project.

The pictures in this post are all of flora blooming in my garden at the moment...