The Air Conditioner In Hiding

As you approach the back garden, you will see and often hear the clunky but well-loved air conditioner.



What can I say? I got it in my head it should be heard but not seen and since I was on a roll and the nurseries were selling off everything at the end of the season, I bought ornamental grass.



Not just any ornamental grass as it turns out--the mother of all grasses and if you don't stand by with a machete, it will spread three houses over, never mind the brick walls in its way.

Okay, I exaggerate a tad.

This season, I snip off a bit once in a while and the harsh drought stems the exuberant growth.

And I guarantee you won't see the machine.

Wins and Losses

The raised beds were a great idea. This one was intended to hold the oriental rhubarb and a smattering of spinach and lettuce. Instead, the horseradish, planted way back by the fence, crept forward and sneaked into everything this year.
The veggies surrendered and now the rhubarb is holding a shoving match with the intruder.
My kids love my horseradish sauce--it comes with fire extinguishers, so it has to stay. But how to contain it?
From what I've read, it won't be easy. Or possible.

The morning glories are charming as always; I installed a fine netting over the fence and they are winding their way up up from the end of their raised bed.

Then there's the ornamental grass. I thought it would be nice to plant it by the air conditioner so we wouldn't have to stare at the metal box. I guess I got the kind of grass that wants to shield entire houses from view.
that gate isn't mine--it belongs to the next-door neighbor.
I think I'll give the grass a haircut.

The Best Kind Of Grass

I love the kind of grass you don't have to mow.
The first thing I did when I moved into my new house was to plant three little clumps of ornamental grass.
It looks so ethereal pushing gracefully through the snow and believe me, ethereal is good when the ice is beating against the window and that's the best it will get all day.

I planted some at the side of the house to hide the air conditioner and this was the most perverse grass I've ever met; it wants to grow tall and gangly and doesn't really hide the air conditioner. What it does is get in the way of people heading for the back gate.

You know I'm in serious prep-for-winter mode when the a/c is wrapped and ready. The chipmunks take this as a sign it's time to set up housekeeping deep inside where it's cozy and wind-free.
I just have to remember to remove the nest in the spring.
and spring will come.
It always does.