When Iggy’s away, I’m apt to laze around the house all weekend. But I was determined not to do that today. So late this morning, I walked about a mile and back to CVS to buy some necessities. Then, after lunch, I started yard work.

I rearranged some plants.

My three parsleys were too close together. The middle one got monster big, while the two on the sides shrank under its shade.

When the guys built our new retaining wall, they didn’t tell me that they would destroy all the plants within six inches of the wall, so I lost most of my vinca except for the few plants that had sneaked under the cover of my holly bush and one low-lying yew.

Some of my hostas crowded my two peony bushes and the rhododendrons, so they had to move.

Finally, I transplanted some silver lamium, a ground cover, into two window boxes. My garden designer told me that they should survive to bloom again next spring.

I also did some animal maintenance. Emptied, cleaned, and refilled their water containers. Restocked the squirrel palace with sunflower seeds. I also took some steps to reduce the birds’ use of our patio as a porta-potty. I decommissioned the temporary feeder under our garden table. I relocated the auxiliary palace to a spot underneath our burning bush, an invasive shrub, just like sparrows are invasive. The birds will still get some food. Just not as much. And not as close to where I walk. I also hosed down the back steps.