Even the song birds were placing bets on the long shot. The bluebirds were hanging out over the arbor checking out the birdhouse on that structure. I was excited because we lost all of our bluebirds last year, some to the late spring cold blast and others to some predator. I suddenly realized we had not cleaned out our 10 or so houses scattered around the property this past fall and stopped the mulching to clean out bird houses while hubby tackled the thorny pyracantha. I was happy to see that most of the houses had been occupied last year. Unfortunately I had inadvertently chased off the bluebird who did not return the rest of the day.
Several more hours of yard work (meaning I did not have to justify other more boring exercise indoors) ended with cutting back the tall grasses on the retaining wall and heading inside for a well earned cup of tea and my mystery book.
Within days Mother Nature slapped me up the side of the head, reminding me how fickle spring can be.
The weather did not turn bitter cold, but the snow hung on for a day or two and with temperatures in the 70s this week I will be compelled to return outside and finish the job.
I spent the day outside getting the second, small, raised bed planted and then I tackled an old bed in the back that had been taken over by johnson grass, nut grass, and evening primrose. it was full of poppies last year but only a few volunteered in there this year. got it all cleaned out and dirt added and ready to plant today. I never top off my crepe myrtles. I know a lot of people do but I don't understand why. They're trees.
ReplyDeleteI top this crepe myrtle because it is in a flower bed and creates too much shade. This tree could get to be 40 feet tall and if it was somewhere else I would not prune it, most likely.
ReplyDeleteMarch is being its usual bratty self, I see. We haven't had the warmth you've experienced but that's coming, this week. Supposedly.
ReplyDeleteSprig seems to bring a wide variation in weather.
ReplyDeleteHere, we wait for the pecan trees to bloom. They are never fooled, if they are blooming, you are safe from frost.
ReplyDeleteAt first is appeared our March was coming in like a Lion with severe thunder storms predicted then they only passed by making noise but not leaving any moisture. That was a bad thing because now fires are cropping up everywhere and we are under burn bans for our county.
ReplyDeleteThe weather is bouncing back and forth here, too, one day offering sub-freezing temperatures, the next offering sunshine and warmth. We never did get more than one measurable snowfall all winter. The daffodils are pushing up through the leaf mold and flocks of spring birds mine the yard and the feeder for sustenance. Loved reading your most recent posts and enjoyed the marvelous photographs.
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