Got the Jimmy Legs

Ferdinand the Bull, originally uploaded by Jimmy Legs.

As promised, less kittens and more big fat white cats in the back yard! We hit up Home Depot yesterday for the first of what will probably be several trips there to populate the yard with plants. they had a surprisingly good selection, both for the garden and the window boxes I bought months ago but have yet to fill and mount. And yes, the window boxes are the lame plastic kind, but that's all they had at the XXtra discount store. In fact, HD was running low on decent planters too, I saw only one window box worth anything, and it was too small. To remedy this, we tried to get plants that would spill over the edge of the box to minimize our gauchity.

For the boxes we got annuals (including some 'double impatiens' which I just think are swell), but everything for the yard is perennial, so that we may enjoy the greenery for years to come. Or until we win the lottery. We're sort of reaching at straws, picking out stuff we like with little plan as to where stuff will get planted. But I guess it can go anywhere for now, it's not like we're gonna run out of room with the few plants we have so far.

At some point I'll have to remove most of the mint plants that sprouted up everywhere. I hate to tear up a perfectly serviceable plant that is doing a helluva job covering the side of the yard, but then, it's not like it won't just come right back.

I still want to get some big planters and plant some tall skinny trees so that I may move them around the patio at will, but HD had only superlame planters left. What's up with the state of outdoor furnishings? It's like people want their yards to look like the Enchanted Fairy Forest of Faux-Bronze Pots with Little Fleur-de-Lis all over the place. To the customers' credit, it seemed all the plainly designed planters and whatnot had all been sold, leaving the fugly stuff behind. But somebody must be buying this crap. I'll take my plastic boxes over the ostentatious stuff any day!

I've got the rest of the week off! If only I could enjoy it, but the specter of the workload when I return will ruin my ability to savor my freedom. Unless, perhaps, I get really drunk.

Labels: Brooklyn, Bushwick, Cats, Flowers, House, Plants, The Yard

posted by Jimmy Legs at 12:07 PM

Comments:

Your description of the Home Depot pickins is right on! Some of the things that I saw were hideous. I especially hate the enchanted forest accesories. Why do you want a fake rabbit sculpture in the garden? Or a ceramic frog reclining on a lily pad? It would be much better to just get a plastic flamingo and some of those cheap plastic pinwheels and stick them into the ground. At least those things exude cool John-Waters-style-kitschy-ness.

I did like HD's flower selection and vegetable plant selection though.

Posted by The Changeling | 7:02 PM

I assume you are talking about the HD in Bed Sty right? What's up with the customer service there and the lack of goods.

Jimmy - did you give us on Gowanus Nursery? I too found some cheap plants at HD. Still don't know if I'm going to buy that burgandy one which really stands out from other greenery.

Question is whether you are going for potted plants, or will they go into the ground in your backyard.

Yes, lush greenery is a goal of a lot of people, but that would cost a small fortune.

Enjoy your week off and don't spend all your money on booze.

Posted by Anonymous | 11:28 PM