Deadheaded Neighbor's Decorative Grass Tonight

I don't know if "deadheaded" is the right term but I gently removed as much of the dead grass that I could to open it up to light and air. 

Our 84 year old neighbor who had back surgery is still in the hospital and we've been watering her beloved decorative grass (have no idea of its actual name!) that she planted in the narrow strip between our two driveways. 

She had pointed out to me a few weeks back that she'd have to buy some more plants because they weren't looking as good as when she first planted them.  I gently suggested that perhaps it was all the dead matter that was blocking off the new growth.  She really didn't have a chance to do anything because she went in the hospital last week with terrible back pain and had to have surgery to try to alleviate a pinched nerve.

I discovered that the grass stalks are really sharp!  When I first tried pulling some of the dead stuff this morning, I jammed a small piece into my thumb and had to dig it out with a sterilized needle.  I wore gloves this evening.  I couldn't pull out every single dead stalk or I'd end up pulling out the live stuff too. 

I haven't counted how many of the plants there are altogether but 4 look dead and I left those alone so she can see that they died on their own with no assistance from the plant equivalent of Dr. Kevorkian.  Some of the plants are looking very good and she'll be quite pleased that they are "bushing out" now.

I watered the plants a second time this evening to help settle any live roots that I may have disturbed in removing the dead stuff.  Taking care of plants is not my forté.  I'm just doing it to help them out.

Her husband is very busy every day driving down to visit her at the hospital in Santa Fe.  He himself is on oxygen.  It's touching to see how he's taking such good care of her.  He's arranged for a hospital bed, a walker and a sitter for her until she can get around again on her own. She was such an active woman.  I hope her recovery goes smoothly and she can be active again.

The house painter picked up the paint today.  He may start priming on Monday.  I have some appointments next week.  I'll need to be here the day he paints the doors so they can be open.

Grandson was very good on the hike.  He even carried his own backpack and water!  I'm so pleased that he is such an amazing hiker!  He's off to Florida and Disney World this Saturday!

Tomorrow I sleep in until 8 am and we don't have to move the cars for the painter in the morning - yay!!