SENIOR GARDENERS: BEWARE

SENIOR GARDENERS: BEWARE

There are days when I am sure you really wonder, but, it is, supposed to be spring! In my Rocky Mountain environment and at this elevation I feel that this could be questioned.

From my own experience, I know the anticipation of getting the ground prepared and the seed and bedding plants situated. Once this is accomplished you can park the 'carcus' on the swing or lawn lounger and enjoy!

Learn to pace yourself to avoid injury. Lifting, pushing and pulling are all strenuous activities that have the potential to really mess you up. I am walking three to four miles daily which includes the stretches and twists. This is on top of the dally tasks that I am used to handling with out giving it a thought However, none of the above really tones you up to jump right into vigorous gardening. A wheelbarrow or garden cart are wonderful if used with good judgment. One needs to start the whole program gradually.

Shoveling dirt or manure into a moveable appliance is a task in itself. Lifting it on a shovel to scatter it uses muscles you may not realize that you have, that is until a day after this activity. It does not take a whole lot of this until you begin to feel it.

Going slowly will pay off in the long run. What you fail to accomplish today will be waiting for you tomorrow.

I'm trying a different method of gardening this year. The changing seasons here at our elevation make for a pathetic growing season. Then wind makes having a little backyard greenhouse a challenge, to put it mildly. I am mixing veggies in with my flowers. This can easily be done with varied size containers. A great method for city or apartment dwellers.

While pacing the physical side, keep your mind on the sunshine. There are a lot of medications that are sun-sensitive, here again, is the potential for serious problems. Protect your eyes as well as your skin and drink a lot of water while taking frequent breaks.

Your bonus is the supreme satisfaction that you will feel upon harvesting the veggies while enjoying the beauty of the flowers.

Happy gardening.

@2002gould

Barbara Gould
On-line Columnist/Author:
"Weird Old Woman Down The Road, and Other Minor Observations."Poetry,short
stories and articles on aging available.
Contact: mtnmagpie@yahoo.com
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