The world is full of the most wonderful things!

Gardening and what Mother Nature can bring each year has been a passion of mine. I am always so thankful when the first signs of spring pop out in January, Feburary and March. It is a feast for the eyes after the months of drab browns and bare branches across the landscape. First you will see the tips of the spring bulbs like crocus and daffodils. Often they come up really early, only to get their tips frozen off. They do come back. Years ago, I got a little crazy and ordered a bundle of 100 daffodils. None of the bulbs were named and it seemed like they grew in numbers as I planted them in bunches of about 6 each in the holes I dug. Each bunch/clump became one variety over the 30 years since planting. I pick and deliver some to my neighbors as there are so many and I can spread their joy. They last over 2 months with the early, middle and late season blooms come and go. Next, I have a yard full of little violets that have spread throughout my large yard. These are the only ones that I’ve seen that are bi-colored with white and periwinkle blue. The early iris start blooming, as in the picture and then more and more of my perennials come out. There is the soft blue nepta, the cranesbill (perennial geranium), the roses, daylillies, dasies, loosestrife (white and hot pink) and blackeyed susans. It is just a joy to walk through the garden and marval at the beauty that surrounds me. The lilacs, azalea and a golden current get going too. Later, the Rose of Sharons will bloom in earnest and the Sedum too. There are marigolds and zinnias to fill in the beds when the heat hits.

Projects

My boyfriend and I have done some projects too. This spring we did a rock pathway to the pool so mud and grass did’t follow us into the house. We just set the rocks level with the dirt. I wanted the underlayment and barrier but it looked nice. The crabgrass has taken over and I’ve been cleaning it up. Several years ago, I did a short path off my front sidewalk with all the underlayment and barrier but the Bermuda grass wants to take over that! I should have used the extented season Roundup on it. The large front garden has an east-west and and south rock walkways, More walkways are needed. Divide and conquer!

Our big project this year has been a watering system for the vegetable garden. That project is waiting for the guttering on the garage to be put up. We have the IBC tote, gifted by a nephew and a 4′ platform built to put it on. There are many hurdles to get through before this is done as it is still 53′ to the garden and am hoping to do passive drip irrigation system. I spend hours watering in the week when it is dry and this should be a great time saver. There is not much information online for what we are doing. Pumps can be pretty expensive at as much as $180 each and still need something to power them. Hopefully, there will be more rainbarrels in the other far away beds down the road. It takes too long to run 200′ of water hose through the yard and attempt to keep things wet enough to look pretty.

The slow season

When it is too hot to work much outside or the cold wind, rain and snow blow, I do handwork and crafts. I’ve done countless bouquets, both fresh and dried flowers/weeds. Mainly, I do counted cross stitch but am interested in things like tin can flowers, fountains, windspinners and various garden ornaments. I made 2 of these Cross stitches (below)this winter. I want to try the tin can flowers. Happy Gardening!