Sierra Foothill Garden

Today, Maggie and I walked all the way to the bottom of the property, where it’s fairly wild.

It’s easy to walk this season for the poison oak hasn’t leafed out and the grass is low, only an inch or two. Most of the upper paths are covered in pine mulch to prevent muddy shoes, ..and paws.

The grasses and weeds with stickers don’t bother us and no sticky seed pods stick to my jeans. I wear my coat, but on the way up I huff and puff, becoming warm. 

I’m glad of the bench, placed halfway up, and Maggie jumps up, as well, on cue, and patiently, ever watchful, waits with me until its time to go on. I lean back against the trunk.

That field could use some raking, I see, and dead branches trimming. The Yerba Santa could be cut low to make it bushier and more attractive in summer.

Look at all the dead manzanita branches! They’re left from when the property was first cleared for sale ten years ago. If it bothers me, I suppose I’ll do something about it.

We could add another big loop to the system of paths, I imagine.  A big job, as we progress downhill; we may need help, a teenage boy, needing pocket money and with energy, to work alongside us, to direct to do this or that, but in actuality, to spur us on, too, with the sometimes overwhelming job of taming a bit of our ground.

I stand and we make our way along the woodland area, looking for any signs of the bulbs I planted, probably too deep.  Ah, well. The pear tree, wild lilac and the crabapple buds are forming and there are other bulbs showing their leaves.

At the top, Maggie, on her short legs, gathers herself and bounds up the patio steps. Another winter walk done…and a patrol.

Open the door and we clatter into the kitchen.  Maggie trots away to see where my husband is; to see if all is well indoors.