dandelion therapy

this evening i was home alone, and struggling with the urge to go to sleep at about 7:30pm, when i remembered i needed to go outside and water the plants. while i was out there, i noticed how many dandelions were poking up through our grass. on an whim, i unlocked the garden shed and found our dandelion digger. for the next 45 minutes--until it started getting too dark to see--i dug dandelions, creating a massive pile of discarded weeds on the edge of the lawn.

i think most people would think i was crazy, but in the right conditions, dandelion digging is one of my favourite gardening tasks. i don't enjoy it when the ground is too dry--it is discouraging when i can't get the digger into the soil. but with a reasonably damp garden, you can really get the roots of the weeds with one of these tools, and it is fun to tackle a bit of grass and pull all the dandelins in sight.

now i'm back inside, at it's 8:45pm. i am tired again, but at least this time i feel like i have good cause to be!

Comments

[Richard]

Glad you're making yourself useful. As usual. Rx

[Account Deleted]

I have to agree. Nothing is quite as satisfying as pulling weeds, especially when you are chasing a setting sun. Next time, though, leave the digger in the shed and try it bare-handed. Hauling a dandelion out of the ground, root and all, with nothing more than your oh-so-dirty fingers is more rewarding than you can imagine.

[Richard]

That takes some serious technique, though, if you're not going to leave the roots behind. I guess that's part of the satisfaction, although the crack you get when you break the root can be a little disheartening.

[shannonb]

i know what you mean but i can't do it by hand--i get carpal tunnel or rsi or something almost instantly. the next day my hands feel awful. i also find that while i'm left handed, i seem to do all my weeding with my right hand (is this to protect my good hand? i have always wondered) and i end up with cracked nails and scratched hands etc. i definitely have learned the hard way to stay with the gloves and handy digger.