Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for March 05, 2024

Thought Arlo gave the perfect answer.

He wants it pretty to show, it seems. She has wanted it pretty for them all these years.

What’s the point? If the house sells the new owners might pull it all out and replace them with what they like.

Janis is having trouble in investing in the futility of the situation?

This is why I prefer perennials.

Where has the humor gone?….MIA for a couple of weeks now.

Whaaaaat!?

When we downsized from a home where we’d spent 45 years, I told the owners-to-be that the extensive flower beds had gotten overcrowded and asked if it would be OK if I “thinned” them a bit before we left.

Wound up with dozens of plants, from peonies to hostas and irises, to start our brand-new yard with a flourish. The old yard was still chock full of colorful plants in its nearly two dozen flower beds.

But I’ll always regret not knowing how to take a cutting from the world’s best apple tree and graft it onto root stock for the new place. Those incredibly tasty apples were from a tree that sprang up on its own after we arrived, so there’s no way to buy one like it.

That first impression is critical. Doesn’t have to be thousands of dollars in landscaping. Fresh mulch, some shrubs and flowers. And bury a St. Joseph’s statue in the garden bed.

My wife has been putting off getting tomato seeds started. She tried several new varieties last year and they were all disappointing. I’m all for Early Girl and Sweet 100. Blue Mason Bees go out Thursday.

Under pressure

They must live in the deep south – it’s much too early to be planting flower beds here. We’re expecting snow this weekend (Ohio).

My friend owns a large commercial greenhouse, interesting to watch the season unfold, walking in from -29c is an experience

I think this is the first solid indication they are going to move. The kids have been talking about it as a sure thing for a while, but AFAIK there has been no conversation among the whole group.

Honestly a big fancy garden would make me shy away. Too much work and I’d never be able to keep it up (disabled). I’ve often joked with hubby that if we ever had our own land again I’d be fine with astroturf.

Subtext: {"And then, if it doesn’t work out, it’s all your fault!"}

Attagirl Janis…attagirl……….

Things grow……

I know the feeling

It seems like a common sense solution for Arlo and Janis is to become snowbirds, spending the winter months at their son and DIL’s guest house and summer months at their home.

With Guss wanting to move to the condo, their plans may have to be modified.

It sounds like they have not decided if they want to move. If they are not sure about the move they should stay put at this time.

Been there, done than. Just plant things that are low-maintenance & hire someone to mow the lawn.

A great strip, showing the different variables in making a life decision. We want to, but we don’t. Bravo Jimmy.

When showing the house, leave a pair of panties sticking out from under the bed and a s_ex toy on the nightstand. You want a natural look. You don’t want it to look too staged.

While in my thirties, I visited an elderly aunt in Minnesota who showed me around her property— pointing out mature trees including one that she and her husband planted the year they were married. (he died just three years later in a machinery accident but she and her sons continued farming the land.) I remember thinking how cool it was to have such a deep connection to her land.

Now, I am the elderly one who has remained rooted in place (married 50 years next month.) We have a pin oak that predates our marriage, plus a 40 yr old white oak, three oaks that grew from acorns out of our mulch over 25 years ago, a deciduous magnolia, dogwoods, redbud and a flowering cherry tree. Annuals flowers, even long-term perenniels are replaceable. It would be really difficult to leave the trees.

Janis doesn’t seem so happy about the idea of moving anymore.