Rain!

This evening a slow rain fell on the expectant cotton and my brown, parched front lawn.  I can't imagine what my neighbors must think of my gardening skills given the condition of the front.  I've just been so busy tending to the cotton and my numerous potted plants, day lilies and irises that there is little time for much else.  

Since the folks down the street are trying to sell their house, I will do my part to beautify the neighborhood for prospective buyers and get some sod for the front lawn.  That was dad's advice. Get a few pieces of sod to put down in bare places.  If it doesn't beautify, at least it will show progress.  Dad told me I could even cut up the square foot pieces and distribute them.  This is after applying weed and feed.  I want to take the hippie/earth mother approach and go chemical free, but my lawn is in desperate shape.  I can't even identify the weeds out there.  Anyway, while I would love to take the ecological high road, I feel the suburban pressure to have a presentable lawn like everyone else.  

As an aside, I had planned to reseed the yard, but dad advised against it.  Something about not coming up evenly and constantly wanting to die.  While dad and I differ on his liberal use of Round Up and a few other gardening practices, I must admit he knows what's he's doing.  Dad got it from his father.  Papaw is so knowledgeable about everything green.  Walking with him in the garden is like walking with a North American tree and plant guidebook   Last time I visited Mamaw and Papaw, I cheekily offered to let him come live with me and be my yard guy.  I tried to sell him on lodging accommodations and told him I would feed him better than mamaw.   We both knew that I couldn't deliver on that last one.