Squish, Squish

That would be the sound of walking on the grass after 11.5 inches of rain so far this month. Yes, I said MONTH. Wish I could save some up for August. Oh well.

The creek is high, the basement is wet, managed to unclog the downspout finally during a brief break in the rain. Check out the lush grass. While it lasts!



And, I used the rest of those few minutes of sun to check out the budding around the yard. Peas are up! Fortunately I got the pea fences in last week--that is one between the peas and the chain link boundary fence :)
















The smoke bush is leafing out beautifully.

















And the barberry is ready to flower.

Supplies Arriving...

Pea fences came yesterday, more Deer Scram today. On the way: A bean tower and a new composter--a tumbler! Good thing the pea fences showed up, the peas are poking up already. Nothing like fresh peas. Sometimes they don't make it into the house :) I haven't tried to grow beans before, but now that I'm going to have a bean tower...

Meanwhile, more rain is on the way. So, I put one of the rain barrels out yesterday, since there is no overnight freezing forecast for at least the next week. If only we could store up more of this rain for later in the summer.

The late Easter this year really has thrown off my sense of time for the spring, and I am way behind. I need to get some compost into the main garden bed. At least I finally got all of last year's debris out. Yesterday. With any luck the "scattered thunderstorms" predicted for Saturday will be sufficiently scattered to allow me to get a little work done in the yard. Between baking challah and egg-shaped cupcakes for Easter :)

But, mother nature is not confused. Here come the hostas! Note the Deer Scram shaker. I actually buy the stuff by the big pail now, but the shaker container makes it a lot easier to apply. Of course, with 3 inches of rain Tuesday, I'm sure I need to get out and spread some more. After tomorrows storms. Sigh.

Sweet Violets

Sweeter than all the roses. Is it because you can't control them, they show up when and where God chooses? My yard is covered with them this time of year. Oh, and it's the Alpha Delta Pi flower :)


I suppose the same could be said of dandelions (except for the ADPi part!). Also carpeting my yard, and those of all my neighbors. At least you can eat them. Or make wine ;)





The mountain fire pieris was a great buy. Evergreen leaves, new leaves come in brilliant red in the spring, white masses of hanging flowers soon to come. A big branch was broken off early on (deer? mower? roaming neighborhood dog?), but the plant has bounced back very well. Maybe time for a few more in the shady side...

Some Tulips Survived

The deer seem to prefer the grassier areas, although they have been known to nibble what grows along both sides of the driveway. Either the profusion of daffodils kept them away, or the garage light, or something equally tasty but more accessible. But, I coated the driveway bed tulip area with Deer Scram anyway. Of course, then it began to pour rain. Oh well. Guess I'll have to keep the Deer Scram people in business and buy another vat. They are having a sale...








The yellow ones are from the ravaged bed near the potting shed. Silly me, waiting until there were actual buds showing to put up the barrier. I will remember this for next year...

Sun...Rain...Sun...Rain...

Today is pretty gloomy. Thursday was just pretty! The blooming is well underway among the spring flowers and shrubs. My yard is usually a bit behind the rest of the neighborhood, but that is okay, it just means we all get to enjoy the peonies and such for a longer time :)



peonies making their way...


purple leaf sand cherry


creeping phlox


apple blossoms



pink flowering almond

I Used to Love Deer

Now, I love them when they are in someone else's yard! Argh. I much prefer the little robins, happily pulling up worms, leaving my flowers alone.











Maybe if I start grilling venison...

More Signs of Spring

With buds come deer. Deer with the munchies, of course. Waited too long to protect the tulips, and they are half eaten well before getting a chance to bloom.







They do not, however, seem to like rhubarb. Go figure.







Not bothering the redbud tree, either. Never have. See why they call it a REDbud?







Cilantro doesn't seem to attract any nibblers. At least not so you'd notice. Of course, lots of people don't like it either. I am not one of them. Fortunately! This will be the third year it comes back on its own in this pot that stayed out all winter.







Yay, hyacinths!

Yard Cleanup

Rhubarb
Thanks to the guys from Springdale Lawn Care, lots of little sprouts are now visible. Oh, and yet another golf ball. Six years I've been working in this yard, planting stuff everywhere, and still every spring, I find more golf balls. I do not play golf. I do not have friends or family members who practice in my yard. Not complaining, mind you, it is just weird.


Peony
Sedum and golf ball
Horseradish
Daffodils
Forsythia
Columbine

Crocuses!

Spring has sprung! And not a moment too soon ;) The crocuses are smiling in the sun, and the daffodils are not too far behind...

March

I am always glad to see February in the rear view mirror. March came in like a lamb after February's lion-like exit. How do those 28 little days feel like two months year after year. Hopefully a few days of drying out before the spring rains begin in ernest. My poor yard.

Meanwhile, signs of hope and rebirth all around!

Tiffani Thiessen on Gardens

Check out Tiffani Thiessen's comments on what makes a great garden and a great character.

60 Degrees

Spent the last couple hours setting up the watermelon bed and dragging sticks to the curb. I am grimy and worn out! But, how can you not get out in the SUN in the dead of February, even if it means yard work?


I do hope these pictures of the stick pile portray how big a mess there was in the yard. Giant limbs that had to be dragged in the foreground, oodles of smaller branches and twigs to the back.









I know this looks like a grave, but it really isn't. Really. It is a layered future planting bed: Cardboard on the bottom, then newspaper, then composted manure, then ground up clippings from last year, then peat humus, then mulch. Phew. By mid-May it should be all rotted together into a nice pile of nutritious earth for my watermelons and zucchini. Yay! Would have been a lot easier if it weren't so windy!




Meanwhile, the bulbs are doing fine today after I pulled a foot or so of oak leaves off of them last night. Mostly daffodils, I think. And a lone snow drop. So far.

Can't Resist

Once the seeds go on sale, it is like a magnet, I cannot help but buy some. Yes, some. I have a coupon for Delhi F&G, so I may get more over the weekend...

Meanwhile, I bought some manure, humus, and mulch to prep a new bed for the watermelons and zucchini, pumped up the tires in the garden cart, and cleared most of the leaves off of the tiny strip between the driveway and the west fence. Bulbs are popping up, so I think I got the leaves off just in time. Pix too follow, it was dark by the time I finished.

I Don't Think It's Over...

The snow is almost gone. For now.





And here come the spring bulbs.
















Meanwhile, LOTS of clean up to do in the yard. Feel free to stop by and help...

Amaryllis Progression

January 18th through February 1st.