Rediscovering this blog after ignoring it (mostly) over the past couple of years, I think I'll bring it back since it's interesting to me to see the changes in the garden since 2008 in pics here.  Strange that the pics I posted since August, 2011 have disappeared (?) but I'll just continue from today.

The past three years I have had to deal with a big change.  In 2010 when I turned 60 I was diagnosed with arthritis in my knees.  I had been moving gravel in my wheelbarrow to create a new path and simultaneously doing weight-bearing exercises at a local gym with a trainer.  The combination of work and exercises apparently aggravated the condition that had been waiting to flare up, and I found it rather suddenly difficult to walk or work using my knees.

For the garden, that meant hiring help for the heavy work!  Arnulfo became my maintenance and landscape guy, and he helped me complete those gravel paths, keep the lawn mowed and trimmed, and this past spring he put in an extensive raised bed area where I used to have my big garden. 

Now that I've retired (in June) I have had to let him go, (finances changed) but we planned the beds to help me maintain the garden better.  Results in the pics posted here.  I like it!  (Crab grass in the paths does get away from me, but i catch up with my stirrup weeder now and then ... )

Beds laid out early spring.

Beds full in July