We're Going to Be Townies

I spent a couple of hours at The Hill this afternoon. The new owners are making it a happy place again. We spent about an hour walking the grounds, showing them the property lines and helping identify trees, shrubs, and garden plants. Coming from a gardening Zone 8 to 6b is a big adjustment. I enjoyed their energy and enthusiasm. Neither know anything about vegetable gardens and were plunging in with fervor. I had to caution them … little early for tomatoes … we still have Redbud, Dogwood and Blackberry winters to get thru. They're amused (more like agog) to learn my weed control - burn, baby, burn. J told me my nickname around the place is Blowtorch Becky. They added wonderful yard art to the pieces I left behind. I encouraged them to make the gardens their own; don't worry about what I planted and did. Certainly, I'm doing the same in my new home; Nadina immediately was yanked out. I'm eyeing several other plants which may not see spring in my gardens. J ask if

As I write this update; the new owners are unpacking their Uhaul. The Hill no longer belongs to us. The past 24 hrs were bittersweet. We arrived home, 3 weeks in Portugal and Spain, knowing the closing was today.  The new owners are moving from Mississippi; completely different growing zone. I made dozens of name tags and prepared a binder with as much information as I could remember. Probably more than anyone wanted to know.  Before we left for Portugal there was a mild balmy day and i was out on The Hill tending gardens. There's a spot where i have an adriondack chair. It's down the slope from the house; where I rest under a Linden tree and listen to the wind coming up from the river canyon. Listening, I could usually hear a change in the weather about 15 mins before it arrived on the hill. I often listened to what i thought were old voices. Sounds a little nutty I know, I thought if i could just concentrate, I know what they told me. It was there in August 2003 when I rem