This blog was going to be a list of things I would like to do. But A person emailed me, with a plea for advice on how to take care of his Yucca plants. This is puzzling to me. In this day and age, there is a plethora of gardening websites. That plus the fact that few people take the advice that is given. As all gardeners know, most garden maintenance is tedious labor. And most wannabe gardener's enthusiasm quickly peters out.
But this person is one of the few people who does listen and actually has become a very good gardener. I feel that I have him buffaloed.
So I passed on my skimpy expertize, pertaining to the care of his Yucca's. I also emphasised that Yucca plants have a much better chance of staying with you until death does you part. Much more so, than any wedding vow. Yucca plants although not as invasive as bamboo, nut grass, and violets to mention a few have a very persistent root system.It is almost impossible to get all of the Yucca roots out of the soil. And the next thing you know, new little Yucca's appear. So unless you are transplanting the Yucca or any of it's ilk. My advice is to nuke them. And most times, bamboo will just laugh at the herbicide, and at you to.
Back to the reason why talking about Yucca plants, made me switch from blogs about my inane list. To Yucca plants and memories of Army bases and Fort Dix in general.
I cannot prove this statement to be fact. But I have been on a number of army bases, and they all look the same. Sand and Yucca plants. Which I believe is some kind of military strategy. Now the Yucca plant when properly cared for has a beautiful large showy bloom, and will bloom yearly. But as it is a succulent it can survive in poor arid soil, stay olive green and ward of any predators. Ideal for harsh conditions.
In basic training I was never picked as the supernumerary when assigned guard duty (a soldier who acted as a reserve sentry, who was picked because of his spit and polish. In the civilian world he would probably be called a rump swab. This solider got to hang out in the orderly room. While us other worthless saps, wandered around in the dark trying to stay awake and remember the order of the day) I also always ended up on the much despised pots and pans detail, when ever I was assigned to KP. Now the reason I never got any of the tit details when I was assigned to these duty's is simple. I was one of the privates who felt as though it was his duty to help close up the beer garden every night. How could I possibly be one of the first KP's to enter the mess hall at 4 a.m. Or to to have the presence of mind to break new starch for the guard detail inspection. Christ I was lucky to have a semi spit shine and a remotely close gig line.
Don't get me wrong I loved basic training, and enjoyed most of it. Guard duty, KP,close order drill and policing the area where however my downfall. Our field first was diminutive, a real prick and a fierce leader. He was dapper in his tailored fatigues and appeared as if he cracked starch every day. When this master sergeant chewed out your ass, he made Sgt's Snorkel and Fatso Judson sound like choir boys.
So my life long dislike of Yucca came from getting my hands sliced front and back by the razor sharp leaves of Yucca plants while policing cigarette butts and gum wrappers in and around those wretched plants. All the while this little shit is strutting around with his swagger stick. Screaming "all I want to see is assholes and elbow's"!
But this person is one of the few people who does listen and actually has become a very good gardener. I feel that I have him buffaloed.
So I passed on my skimpy expertize, pertaining to the care of his Yucca's. I also emphasised that Yucca plants have a much better chance of staying with you until death does you part. Much more so, than any wedding vow. Yucca plants although not as invasive as bamboo, nut grass, and violets to mention a few have a very persistent root system.It is almost impossible to get all of the Yucca roots out of the soil. And the next thing you know, new little Yucca's appear. So unless you are transplanting the Yucca or any of it's ilk. My advice is to nuke them. And most times, bamboo will just laugh at the herbicide, and at you to.
Back to the reason why talking about Yucca plants, made me switch from blogs about my inane list. To Yucca plants and memories of Army bases and Fort Dix in general.
I cannot prove this statement to be fact. But I have been on a number of army bases, and they all look the same. Sand and Yucca plants. Which I believe is some kind of military strategy. Now the Yucca plant when properly cared for has a beautiful large showy bloom, and will bloom yearly. But as it is a succulent it can survive in poor arid soil, stay olive green and ward of any predators. Ideal for harsh conditions.
In basic training I was never picked as the supernumerary when assigned guard duty (a soldier who acted as a reserve sentry, who was picked because of his spit and polish. In the civilian world he would probably be called a rump swab. This solider got to hang out in the orderly room. While us other worthless saps, wandered around in the dark trying to stay awake and remember the order of the day) I also always ended up on the much despised pots and pans detail, when ever I was assigned to KP. Now the reason I never got any of the tit details when I was assigned to these duty's is simple. I was one of the privates who felt as though it was his duty to help close up the beer garden every night. How could I possibly be one of the first KP's to enter the mess hall at 4 a.m. Or to to have the presence of mind to break new starch for the guard detail inspection. Christ I was lucky to have a semi spit shine and a remotely close gig line.
Don't get me wrong I loved basic training, and enjoyed most of it. Guard duty, KP,close order drill and policing the area where however my downfall. Our field first was diminutive, a real prick and a fierce leader. He was dapper in his tailored fatigues and appeared as if he cracked starch every day. When this master sergeant chewed out your ass, he made Sgt's Snorkel and Fatso Judson sound like choir boys.
So my life long dislike of Yucca came from getting my hands sliced front and back by the razor sharp leaves of Yucca plants while policing cigarette butts and gum wrappers in and around those wretched plants. All the while this little shit is strutting around with his swagger stick. Screaming "all I want to see is assholes and elbow's"!
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