Today is the first day of my summer vacation. Summer is the second best part of being a teacher. (The best part is the look on the students’ faces when they finally “get it”). We have about as many days off each year as the average employee in the rest of the world. The main difference is that they receive the time off with pay. Teachers in California are not paid for any holidays (legal or otherwise) or vacations. Didn’t know that, did you?
But we do get the time. Lovely. We save during the school year so we can pay our bills and do things during the summer. One of the things on my list this summer is to spend more time in my garden. It will be no where near the five hours per week of the average gardener in America. What takes them so long? They must still be gardening the hard way, trenching, removing rocks, pulling weeds, fertilizing. Not me. I prefer the easy way. This summer, I’m going to make my easy condo garden even easier. I’m going make it mobile.
I have noticed that as the seasons have changed, my south facing garden isn’t receiving full sun for as many hours as it did in winter and early spring. As the sun has risen in the sky, the sunlight is coming from a more direct angle overhead. The cover over the breezeway where I placed my garden is now shading it for part of midday. Bummer. It was nice having this protection when it was raining like crazy a few weeks ago. But now, I need to move my pots a bit so they receive direct sunlight into the afternoon hours. Simple solution. Wheels!
This week I’m going to visit several stores and look for something ready made that won’t break the bank. I know the nursery nearby has a wonderful round saucer with heavy duty wheels. I bought one for a large clay pot containing some of my geraniums and a Mandevilla. It’s great, but a little pricey. I need six for my vegetable garden pots. If I can’t find anything sturdy and reasonable, I’ll make my own. I’ve been thinking about this for a week or two, and I have a plan.
My pots are square. I’ll buy some lumber at the nearby lumber yard and have an employee cut the wood into squares slightly larger than my pots. If I drill a hole in the middle, about the size needed for a door knob, this would allow for drainage. I’ve seen the same sturdy wheels that are on the saucer I bought earlier at Lowe’s. I didn’t check out the price, but I will. A little paint, a few screws and the garden will be mobile. If the pots are too light weight to stay put when I push them around, I’ll add a little trim on the top edge, but for now, I'm looking for ready made. That’s easier, and that’s the way I like it.
Okay, you are probably a little curious why I have pictures of my grandsons, Mike and Nick, on the top of today’s blog. Each summer we take little “field trips” and a week long vacation together. The point of these trips is to create wonderful childhood memories for the boys. That’s my role, as I see it, in their lives. Sure I spoil them like grandparents should, but I’m a teacher at heart. So each of our trips is planned around what they are going to study the next school year. When we are taking these trips, it’s all fun. When school resumes, and the teacher begins the lesson on California missions, marine life, plant husbandry, etc., their summertime experiences make the lessons relevant and easier to absorb.
The photo above was taken last summer at Cabrillo National Monument, the light house just north of San Diego. We spent the week in San Diego doing all the things you would expect, visiting the lighthouse, the zoo, Sea World, the Maritime Museum and a huge battleship. Coincidently (or not), everything they saw and enjoyed related to something they studied this year in school. This summer, we are going to visit a few public gardens together. Since they helped plant my garden, they think this is cool. But our big trip? Zion or Yosemite. Can you guess what’s on their curriculum for next fall? Geology, geography and maps.
Until next time,
Elizabeth
