英语博客：Bleeding Hearts.

　　I have been making excuses recently, to avoid doing some gardening. I have had pots of plants ready to plant for at least a week. I even put them right on the spots where I intended to plant them, but they sat there for a long time. Every time I happened to go outside, for whatever reason, I would catch a glimpse of them and feel guilty. I made sure that I kept them watered, because I would have felt terrible if they had died in their pots, waiting for me to plant them. Anyway, today, Sunday, happened to be a perfect day: sunny, warm, and still. My husband inspired me to go out at first to help with the blackberry bushes. He had built some sturdy¹ poles, and put wire horizontally to create a support for them to grow up. I helped him with that, and then got on with my project. The entryway to our house, as you might remember, had had five huge bushes that my husband had transplanted³. There was nothing left in their place. I had put a few bags of manure⁴ and peat moss⁵ on the area, but had not mixed them or dug them in. So, that was my first job. Now, I don't know why, but I love to dig. I always have done. So this job, though it was hard, suited me. I dug the spade (shovel) deep into the earth, and then lifted and turned it to mix it in well. As I did this, a lot of roots came to the surface that had belonged to the bushes. I had to pick those out before planting the new beauties. Finally, I got to the fun part. I dug holes for each of the potted plants, turned them upside down, popped them out of the plastic pots, and put them in their holes. I filled in the remainder⁶ of the holes with soil, and continued until they were all done. My next job was to transplant² the Bleeding Hearts, which are stunning⁷ this time of year. You have to be careful with them because they are delicate. So, I dug a large root ball for each one. That means the round collection of roots and earth that the plant is using. The bigger the root ball, the more successful the transplant. And yes, they filled in the corner where I put them beautifully. Finally, mission accomplished⁸. I gave them a long water and then stood back and admired my work.
Grammar notes.
Useful verbs and expressions: to intend to, to catch a glimpse, to get on with, to suit.
1. He intends to catch the train early in the morning.
2. I caught a glimpse of the actor as he got out of the car and went into the theater (theatre).
3. We need to hurry up and get on with the project before it starts to rain.
4. That dress really suits you; it goes well with the shoes that you are wearing.

1 sturdy   

adj.强壮的，结实的，坚固的，坚定(强)的

参考例句：

• We need several sturdy men to push this car.我们需要几个强壮的人来推车。
• Children need sturdy shoes.孩子们需要结实的鞋子。

2 transplant   

n.移植的器官或植物；v.使迁移，使移居

参考例句：

• Some plants do not transplant well.有些植物不宜移植。
• Several of the patients had received kidney transplant.病人中有几位已接受了肾移植手术。

3 transplanted   

vt.移植（transplant的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Surgeons have successfully transplanted a liver into a four-year-old boy. 外科医生成功地给一个四岁的男孩移植了肝脏。
• A group of farmers were transplanted to the island by the government. 一批农民被政府迁到这个岛上居住。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 manure   

n.粪，肥，肥粒；vt.施肥

参考例句：

• The farmers were distributing manure over the field.农民们正在田间施肥。
• The farmers used manure to keep up the fertility of their land.农夫们用粪保持其土质的肥沃。

5 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

6 remainder   

n.余下的部分，剩下的人数

参考例句：

• They joined up with us to spend the remainder of the holiday.他们来跟我们一起共度余下的假期。
• He spent the remainder of his years in Japan.他在日本度过了余生。

7 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

8 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。