This “summer” is lasting a long time, and this severe drought must be setting records.  It’s still perfect gardening weather, like a whole bonus season.  Yesterday I planted some random tree saplings in more appropriate places.  I’m trying to plant and nurture more native trees, like redbud, dogwood, catalpa, sassafras, and anything else I can find.

Today I did a lot.  I managed to drag the two bins full of wood chips out of the way, and neatened up the hosta shade garden.  I hoed and mulched E’s secret garden flower beds with leaves and wood chips.  I woodchipped where the tropicals used to be.  I weeded and top-dressed Y’s rock garden with garden soil.  I woodchipped part of the former melon raised bed, except where I’ve planted passionflower seeds.  I watered in everything well.

I forgot to mention the gigantic hawk the other day that was perching on the swimming pool and diving in every so often!  It was beautiful.  Avdi and Jess and I were fascinated.  It was one more dramatic sign that turning even just one yard into a self-contained balanced native ecosystem creates an essential source of food, shelter, and habitat for a whole network of wildlife, in an otherwise barren manicured desert.  I’ve seen so many more beneficial native critters and pollinators just since I’ve been here gardening.  It makes it all worthwhile.  I have a good feeling about next year.