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Week 1
February brings hope for spring. Grass greening up just a bit after that good raking I did, along with the little snow and sunny days we've had. Raked the other half of the front yard; cut the dry stems of the mums and irises, also pruned the rose bush.
It had gotten very leggy; it put on such a display last year that I hope by removing some of its canes it will flower just as profusely this year. Swept up the drive and sidewalk again, so that the front looks nice and clean for now. Itching to be out there, but nothing is growing yet. Received " The English Garden"; it's a very beautiful magazine with glorious pictures.
It's based in England but it is distributed by its American counterpart.
Need to use the wood from the side yard, so that it will get cleaned up as well. I hope my husband will build a shed this year so I can clear out the gardening accoutrements from the garage. Lovely to re-read "The Countryman" by Grayson again starting in January. He describes sitting by the hearth while it's snowing outside whilst reading a good book.
Simple Joys.
Week 2
Need to plan the veggie garden. Saw crocus points coming out of the ground; they look slender and green. So spring like. Tiny buds of perennials pushing up as well. Mild weather
temperature in the 60's. I also spotted tulip tips as I was cleaning-up more leaves, and pruning more dry stalks. Since it's been so dry I gave everything a nice long drink. I also poured water in the bird bath. Saw some blue jays and woodpeckers hanging around the back yard. I need to dig up some of the phlox and mums and move them to the front yard. In the back they're crowding out the herbs.
When it gets nice and warm like it has been you want to go out and start feeling spring under your fingernails.
Week 3
All the tulips, daffies, and crocus tips are quite tall now - two to three inches. Because of the great weather - sunny and no moisture, I went and watered all the perennials and bulbs plus the grass was done with the hose sprinkle. I cleaned the bird bath; scraped it out with the metal brush. I pruned back the junipers by the club house, so one can see the beautiful moss rocks, and the honeysuckle has more room to breathe. The back porch was swept and cleared of debris. More books on gardening came in the mail. Saw a purple viola in front that has bloomed - surviving from last spring. I need to start my tomato seedlings in pots to get them ready for spring. I want to plant more varieties like Brandywine. I could put the pots in the upstairs bathroom where they'll get lots of sunlight and moisture.
Week 4
Side yard clutter removed. The area is now ready for a shed or for a large planting of crops. Could be great for squashes; the space being so large and usurping so much great soil. The squashes could run amuck.
Used up a lot of the wood ; that way there will be less of it to organize over the summer. Birds drinking from the clean bird bath. It's lovely to watch the world greening up from the large picture window in the remodeled kitchen. I'm beginning to see yellow and purple tips of the crocuses - not open yet, but distinctively their petals. Another viola blooming its sweet head off in the rock garden. I spotted the tiny green jewel buds of the honeysuckle and potentilla. Very windy days lately, sometimes the gusts are so strong, it feels like the roof is going to rip right off the house.
I pruned more branches of the locust tree; unfortunately it is such a messy tree producing long, brown seed pods in the fall that eventually get everywhere.
At times I'm tempted to cut it down.
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