Yesterday the thermometer read 92 with a feels like temperature of 102. I was tired of being inside, (since Saturday) and since it was cloudy I decided I would go outside with 2 items on my agenda. One was to deadhead the Butterfly Bush and the other was to check the roses for Japanese beetles. I also wanted to check the mail. My next dilemma was, do I walk to get the mail and then take the golf cart to do the other things. I decided to take the golf cart and get the mail and continue from there.
I rode the golf cart to get the mail, there was a package from Amazon. I thought , lets take a ride around the perennial garden and see what’s going on. Low and behold, it was inudated with weeds, specifically wire grass all up and into my perennials. So what did I do, start pulling of course. The ground was dry, so I wasn’t getting all the roots. I was holding onto the golf cart and bending down to pull. I did the best I could like that until my right leg and foot gave up and the sun came out, scorching my arms. I got on the golf cart to leave and saw the same wiregrass taking over another area.
So what do I do, decide to take the kneeler down and quickly pull it up the right way, by the root with my tools, (since I couldn’t bend down anymore). I knew I was pushing it, especially since the sun was still beating down. I cleaned up the area, my head through the Iris’ and Goldenrod, pulling like a maniac. Obsessive, I couldn’t stop. In all fairness, if you talk to any gardener, this is what we do. Something takes over our brain and body to keep going.
Except for the fact that I have MS and the heat debilitates me. I also went back to the original area and finished. My whole body was on fire, I had to stop. On my way out I saw some Lavender that looked beautiful to pick so I stopped and again held on to the golf cart and cut as much as I could without passing out.
Needless to say I made it into the garage, drank some water and started the trek up the stairs, (6 with lowered risers) to the safety of air conditioning. Struggling inside I went straight to the sink and cold water, washed my hands and threw the water over my arms and face. I had to get the Lavender into water. The story is not over.
I had brought organic pest killer into the house to spray the blueberry bushes and the Hibiscus on the deck. I grabbed a drink, a can of orange flavored seltzer and went into the den with the drink, spray and phone on my walker. I was going to put the drink on the table but didn’t. I went over to the sliding door and the can fell and spilled over the inside mat. This was okay as long as I can keep it on the mat. All I wanted to do was sit down, I had no plans to go on the deck till later.
This forced me to open the door, I had to set up my aluminum walker since the other one doesn’t fit out the door. This proved awkward and I was trying to pull the rug out on the deck to hose off. That didn’t go so well and some spilled on the floor. I left the rug outside to be dealt with later and came inside to clean what spilled on the floor. Now I plopped on the couch exhausted.
I did go out later and hose down the rug and spray the plants. I really thought I had learned my lesson and stopped overdoing it, but obviously I haven’t. What is wrong with me?