Symptoms of Spring Fever--Terrible Aches and Pains and an Empty Wallet

Friday, I saw an ad in the paper for 20% off all azaleas.  I got in my truck and headed off to Garrison's Nursery. Two days before, my daughter Bridget and I went to 2 other nurseries, where I bought nothing, but she filled my truck up. So something was accomplished.  That's how mine and Bridget's shopping usually goes.
I need to go alone.

Garrison's had just what I was looking for; azaleas that were just blooming and still had buds.  I spent $340 on Formosa azaleas, smaller lavender Encore azaleas (because they bloom year round), hostas, ferns, 4 hydrangeas. and a flat of annuals.  All of these go in a bed I am redoing that's 96 feet across the side of my yard. I bought 10 of the large azaleas for the back row and 12 of the Encore that will go in front and between the larger ones.  Needless to say those didn't make it halfway. That evening when Don got home, I took him and showed him my great buy.

Of course how much of my money I spent did not enter the conversation. It was all MY money. I guess my readers need to know, that I have a bank account that is just mine and Don and I have a joint account.  And yes, he has asked why I have my own account and he doesn't have his own account.  My answer is that I have my own account so that I don't have to ask if I can spend that money. That doesn't exactly answer his question, but it ends that conversation, which achieves my goal. Don is a sweetheart so he does not press the issue.  We've both had first marriages where we experienced fighting over money.  In this marriage I'm the spender and Don is the saver. So it makes sense that the spender has a small account and when it's empty--that's it. I have to wait until I get my next teacher retirement check.

Don really liked the azaleas and I confirmed that yes they were a good deal.  I said that tomorrow I was going back and get some more.  Now Don was willing to contribute to completing the rows of azaleas -- $100. So Saturday morning off I go again.  I bought the same number of azaleas along with planting mix and root stimulator.  I use Don's card for $100 and the remaining $280 from my account.  Well, when I got everything unload and lined up along the fence, I still needed 5 more of each type of azalea.  DARN will it ever end.   So Monday morning I made a third trip to the nursery. Don agreed to help finish out the project and gave the money to buy 5 and I bought the other 5.

Sure I could have measured and done the math before I started this project, but that's not how I do my projects. If I had consciously known that it would have cost over $800 to buy all those plants, dirt and etc, the joy of spring would have drained from me.  Too big of a sticker shock.   Besides, if I had planned it and only made one trip, I would have paid for all of them.  This way Don can feel he made a contribution to our beautiful yard.

The last element in this landscaping project is--for every plant I bought, I have to dig a hole. OMG!As of tonight, I am a fourth of the way through.  I have Thursday and Friday to dig. Don has said on Saturday he  may help me. Maybe by not planning this final stage too, my dear husband will again make a contribution to our beautiful yard.

You will know if I don't blog the next week

--I'm still digging holes.

P.S.  Don is a changed man.  What came over him I do not know.  But he helped me plant all those plants.  He can dig 3 holes to my 1.  We worked 4 afternoons and finished up just before dark Sunday.