Done ... For This Year

I finally got my hill planted! I was short 2-3 dozen vines, but this is all I can do until next spring. I removed the sod with a hoe, and I planted the vines with my big spoon. Laugh if you will, but I couldn't find my garden shovel when I moved in. So ... I dug out my big, steel spoon ... and this trusty spoon has planted hundreds of dollars worth of plants. (Click on any photo to enlarge.)

Here is what it looked like before I started ...

I planted a row of boxwoods, leaving a flat part between the shrubs and the hill so that I could cut any vines that tried to take over the yard. Vinca vines are prolific spreaders. I needed that strip of grass to cut to keep my entire lawn from becoming vinca vines. A few weeks ago I planted fifteen vinca vines I had found on sale. I planted a particularly hard place to mow first. Actually, the entire hill is extremely difficult to cut, but I had to start somewhere ...

Then I found 83 (I thought I had 84, but one pot was empty), so I started clearing the hill ...

Finally, the hill was cleared ...

So I started planting. It's hard to see the vines, but trust me ... they're there ...

I still have some of the tilled ground that needs to be planted, plus some on the other side of the basketball goal. I didn't clear the other side of the goal because I knew I wouldn't have enough plants. Even with a total of 98 plants, I was doubtful that I had enough plants for what I had cleared ... and, sadly, I was right. But, that's all I can do for this year. It's done ... until next spring ...

 
I know I won't find the same bargain on the vinca vines next spring, and I have no expectation that I will be able to find them on sale late in the season like I did this year. There have been many times I've looked for vinca vines in the summer and they were all sold out, so finding them in the fall this year was a real surprise. I do wish I had more vines and could have completed this project this year, but I'm grateful I was able to do as much as I did. Vines or not, it's a relief to know I won't have to cut the hill again ... ever!

I have another hill on the other side of my driveway that's much higher and steeper. The plan is to plant that hill, too. I'm already dreading it.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYE OUT

FOR THE CAR THAT KILLED MY SON!

Even if you don't live in the Evansville area, please keep an eye out for this car. It was traveling South on I-69. It could have been coming from and going to anywhere. The Sheriff's office will follow up any ANY lead.

The Sheriff’s Office has identified the make and model of the suspect vehicle from the fatal hit and run crash that killed 23-year old David “Davy” Egan, father of two, on Friday, June 22, 2018 on I-69 near south Green River Road.

SUSPECT VEHICLE: Silver 1998-2002 Honda Accord sedan. 2-door or 4-door body style. The vehicle will have damage to the front end.

If you know of a vehicle matching this description, please contact the Sheriff's Office TIP line at 812-421-6297 or leave a web tip here.