So like I mentioned, today is the first day I've felt normal despite still being stuffed up. So today I finally got back into the yard. I didn't want to overdo it, so I just spent about 45 min weeding up on the bank by the road. It wiped me out. Not so much because it's such hard work, although it was hard work, with me tiring out so easy, but because it's awkward to work up there. There's not a lot of room among the plants, with a steep drop on one side and a fence on the other. And when I start turning up ants' nests (of which there are many) I don't want to kneel on the ground for obvious reasons. So then I have to stand and crouch, which makes me tire out even faster.
Okay, enough complaining. The fence along the length of the bank includes 6 sections of chain link fence, and today I weeded 1 section. I had done 3 sections before I got sick, so I'm 2/3 done now. It makes a big difference. The sunflowers and marigolds up there really pop out without all those weeds hiding them from view. I love seeing them as I come in & out of the driveway. The sunflowers are so cheerful. Next year I think I'm going to plant taller ones (these are about a foot tall) and plant more of them. The planting instructions are always too far apart if you want a nice full look.
I was also hoping to spray the evil Japanese beetles (we hates them forever!) but by the time I was done weeding I was too tired. Definitely tomorrow. They are doing a number on my zinnias and I need to get rid of them.
A friend of mine told me that milky spore disease (Bacillus popillae) is incredibly effective against japanese beetles. It's a bacterial disease in powder form, that you sprinkle on the ground. He did it over ten years ago and hasn't seen a single one of the bastards since. But it attacks the larvae, not the adult beetles. So we got the milky spore and will use it, but we still needed a poison to stop the beetles right now. I think the one we got is called Sevin. I hate using broad insecticides if we can avoid it, and I'm going to try and time it so we don't also kill bees, who are enjoying the zinnias just as much as the evil japanese beetles.
After my hard work I was so hungry. Hungrier than I've been all week. I had a glass of orange juice for immediate energy, and then we went to my favorite post-yardwork place, the Q Shack. There is nothing better than working in the yard nearly to exhaustion, then going to the Q Shack and getting a big plate of brisket. Mmm, brisket. Now I'm the perfect level of fullness. Completely satisfied, but just shy of overfull. I am replete.
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