The work has started...finally

This week's forecast: Sunny with temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Niiiiice

I FINALLY got some work done this past weekend. On Friday a very nice lady stopped by our house and asked if she could take our leaf bags from around our house. I was thrilled, to say the least. Since the in-laws have yet to return from their winter Florida pilgrimage, I was trying to figure out how we were going to get rid of them this year. I didn't want to wait much longer - there are plants growing under there.

This nice woman, whom I won't name here, uses leaves for what she called a permanent mulch system. I hadn't heard of that before but basically it's using whole leaves as a mulch, stacking them about six inches deep and planting in the dirt beneath. Apparently she adds just as much every year and over time they all break down. Sounds like a good method to me - I know leaves are supposed to be excellent for compost - I just didn't know you could use just leaves like that.

But anywhoo, she came over on Saturday and we filled up her big dump-truck twice with the leaf bags and we were both happy as clams. Her for getting all the leaves she needs and me for getting rid of the ugly bags with even less hassle than usual.

Now, I can start really cleaning up and assessing the damage the moles did. Looks like they might have eaten the Phlox plants I transplanted two years ago. The bed is riddled with tunnels and I'm thinking about burying large containers in the bed instead of planting directly in-ground. Maybe then I can keep some plants over there for more than a year at a time.

This has got to stop

Today's forecast: Sunny with a high of 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

So, remember that long list of chores I posted last week that I was determined to get finished? Yeah, well, that didn't happen. Sure, the weather was bad for a few days (rainy and cold - we still haven't had more than one day in a row of anything over 55 here) but we also had a few really nice days. Sure, it was chilly but that's good when you're working hard outside.

But I did nothing. Depression over many varied things is getting the better of me and I'm doing my best impersonation of a slug. I don't want to do anything at anytime. If I didn't have a job I think I'd be doing my best impersonation of a hermit slug.

It's got to stop, though. Our house looks plain awful and the basics have to be at least be done if nothing else.

Spring Cleaning

Today's expected weather: Sunny with a high of 52 degrees Fahrenheit - finally some nice weather

Everything is at least a few weeks behind here in Maine as far as Spring is concerned. Winter has lingered and this means my Spring cleanup chores have been put off, and put off...and put off.

But no more! This week we have at least 4 days of sunny weather in the 50's and I plan to take advantage of them.

The winter was not kind to our trees and in addition to the regular yard debris of sticks and leaves, there are several larger branches that broke off over the past few months making my annual yard clean-up work more difficult. I normally try to do it all in a day and I normally curse myself for it.

I'm determined to do it wisely this time around and have a schedule mapped out for myself, as follows:

Monday (today): Clean up the Smoke Bush area of the yard, including under the one large Maple tree close by. I'll also pull the leaf bags covering the Iris beds.

Tuesday: Clean up what I call the 'island', which is the strip of land created by the street and our 'U' driveway. There are three and a half Maple trees in the island.

Wednesday: Clean up the far side of the front yard, which also holds three Maple trees. These three were hit hardest this winter and there are a lot of large branches to clean up there.

Thursday: Clean up the 'back' yard, which has two Maple trees to clean up after. I'll also clean up any 'decorations' left behind by Max this winter. He's been good about doing his business in the field but there were a few times that he couldn't make it back there.

Friday: My day of rest. I don't do anything on Friday nights except watch movies with  my husband.

Saturday and Sunday: Clean up the debris days - these are the days that I'll haul all those sticks to the back of the field and add it to our brush pile. I also hope to pull all the leaf bags from the sides of the house and rake out the leaves that accumulated in the flower beds over the winter. I'll add some of the leaves to my compost bins and add the rest to the brush pile.

Of course, this all depends on whether or not I can borrow someone's truck or trailer to haul all of this away. If not, then the leaf bags will stay behind the house until I can.

I have no idea if all of this will actually get done. If I'm too tired after work that day's work will be postponed, but I truly hope that by Sunday, the yard is clear of winter's 'trash' and that I have a clean slate to work with.

It's time...

Winter has been lingering here in mid-Maine. We've been 'clear' of snow only to have another foot and a half dump on us...on the first day of Spring....like a little bitch.

But I'm hoping we're done with major snow. We may get some light stuff in the next few days, but overall the temperatures are going up and staying there.

Yesterday, while out walking our new pooch Max (formerly known as 'Wags') I saw them - Daffodil sprouts. They made me smile and helped me realize that no matter how long Winter drags its feet, Spring is coming.

The green Phlox buds down among the old brown stalks confirmed it.

New Garden Helper

Next year's gardening is already looking better because I now have a new garden helper. Well, maybe not a 'helper' but at least some company and a reason to get me outside.

This is Wags

"Wags" - but probably not for long (we may change his name)

A couple of months ago I saw Wags on Craigslist. At the time I was just looking at the available animals - we weren't really ready to adopt. I thought he sounded like a good fit for us but didn't mention it to the husband because I didn't think we were ready for another dog yet.

But, over the past few months we've finally started remembering China with fondness instead of only with pain and regret.

I went back to Craigslist and there here was again - Wags was still waiting for a home so I sent in an application. After a vet check we were approved and Wags will be coming to live with us on December 22nd. What a great holiday gift!

Wags is currently in an Arkansas shelter where's he's been for about 4-5 months. From the video the rescue posted he looks like he'll be a great addition to our family.

And now I'll have someone to keep an eye out for evil squirrels while I garden. Maybe he'll even take over the Hottentot watch as well.

So...heh heh

Yes, that's meant to be an embarrassed titter.

As you can probably guess, this year was pretty much a bust for me in the garden and pretty much all areas of my life. I let my sorrow get the best of me and I did the bare minimum to get by.

Ironically the flower gardens have never looked better. My husband contends that they look so good only because of the hard work I've put into them in years past. That sounds nice so I'll go with that.

Surprise Sunflower, courtesy of the bird feeders' seeds

We are both still sad about our pooch but we have started talking about adopting a new canine family member - probably not until Spring so that it's easier to house train. (For some reason dogs don't like to try to do their business in three feet of snow. Go figure.) So I suppose that means we're starting to pull out of our funk.

I can only hope that means that I'll feel like gardening again next year - get the projects done that I wanted to get done this year.

I can't promise, but I have hope.

Funky Apathy

It hasn't been a good summer for me or mine this year.

Well, the garden is having a great summer but that has very little to do with me.

I am still in my funk and what's worse is that an unhealthy dose of apathy has accompanied that funk. Funky Apathy isn't very fun at all.

But, the gardens are still doing quite well left alone to do their thing. We've had a lack of rain for a couple of weeks so I do water daily. I have weeded a total of one time this summer and the flower beds that weren't mulched look just terrible. Good thing they're on the side of the house and not the front, eh?

I would show you pictures, but I haven't felt up to taking any. Which is really too bad - the Hydrangea looks particularly beautiful this year and the Tall Phlox bloomed a week early.

So, why am I even bothering to post? Apparently I do care enough to let the few people who read this blog know that I am still alive and still gardening, just not very much and not all that well.

Fortunately, all of the vegetable plants are doing great and as long as the beds don't become infested with hungry green caterpillars I should get a nice crop this year.

I do care about tomatoes. That's something.

Earlier this Spring...

As I wait for the weekend to do some work on the garage-side flower beds, let's reminisce of this past Spring.

...................................

Yeah, not much to remember, actually. We had a nice week of Summer temps (up to 90 in March!) but then it went back to normal.

My Daffodil bulbs were particularly pretty this year and the family tulips made their annual appearance. The wind and rain didn't give us many good days with the tulips, but they were nice while they lasted.

Daffodil Trumpets

10 Tulips

10 Droopy Tulips

Garden Visitors

While I worked last week I had several garden visitors, most of them welcome.

I spotted this little guy while pruning my Iceburg Rose bush.

Green and Fuzzy Caterpillar

I watched this Butterfly flit around my garden all afternoon hoping that it would land and let me take some pictures. It finally found the Rhododendron but kept rushing away when I got near. However, it kept returning and either realized I wasn't a threat or figured the gain was worth the risk. As he circled the blooms I got about a dozen beautiful shots.

Swallowtail Butterfly

If it had been up to the several Bumblebees buzzing around the garden the Butterfly wouldn't have gotten anything. As I took pictures of the Butterfly this one particular Bumblebee kept flying into it, trying to keep it away. But that Butterfly was persistent. The Bumble finally just picked another flower and left the Butterfly alone.

Busy Busy Bumblebee

This last visitor is a permanent one. I found several of these guys at Marden's, a Maine staple, and picked up a few. I really cheers up the garden in those empty spaces.

Patience, Grasshopper...

Back in the swing of things...

Well, it's been a while, hasn't it?

I wasn't sure if I was going to even attempt gardening this year. The returning flowers and bushes seemed to be doing just fine on their own. I considered just letting them do their own thing with no intervention from me.

But then I realized that would mean no tomatoes straight from the garden, or the plethora of crookneck squash I always end up with and I would really miss my peas.

That pulled me out of my gardening funk just enough to request a full week off after Memorial Day as opposed to my regular two extra days and I got most of my gardening chores done - chores that I could have been doing gradually all Spring instead of wearing myself out trying to do it all at once. I can only hope I learn from this year and never put off the work this long again.

But enough with that downer BS. Here's some pictures of what I had to start with and how it all turned out last week.

My Left Bed in Early April. Eww.

My Left Bed before any work was done - plants look pretty good, don't they?

Left Bed after weeding and mulching and adding a few new plants

Left Bed from a different angle. I prefer this Brown mulch to the Red mulch I usually get.

My new Hosta - Twilight. And no, I did not buy this because of those terrible books.

No before pics on this - my shade garden is filling in very well. You can't see it in this picture but all of the Astilbe plants are budding this year.

The Iris Bed, recovering well after the chipmunks ate all of the early Spring growth right down to the tubers.

The corner bed - only one Dianthus plant returned so I filled it in with Marigolds and a big Bee.

My new front corner bed - I laid brown paper bags down and covered them with a thick layer of mulch. Hopefully the bags will have broken down by next Spring and I can plant here.

The Right bed in early April. Again - ewww

The Right bed last week before any work was done. The Rhododendron gave me flowers this year. Yay!

The Right bed after weeding, mulching and adding new plants

The South bed in Early April - see all the mole tunnels? Grrr.

The South bed before any work was done - the Wild Rose Bush was escaping the fence and the weeds were awful.

The South bed after weeding and taming the Rose Bush

The South bed from a different angle. I need to fill in those empty gaps

The Strawberries survived the winter.

I really let the vegetable garden go - it was full of weeds, some over a foot tall by the time I finally did anything to it.

I only planted four vegetables this year - squash (2 types), Peas, Tomatoes (3 types) and cucumbers. This is the squash bed, and as you can see, I decided to lay newspaper down as a weed deterrent. This was really easy and I hope it saves me loads of time this summer.

The vegetable garden all done. I used Brown mulch in the top and bottom beds. The middle still had its mulch from last Summer and I didn't need to add any.

So, there you go. I'm back into the gardening swing of things and hopefully I'll be able to finish up the garage-side flower beds in the next few weeks to make the entire yard ship-shape. It's been raining for 5 days now so not much has been done since last Thursday, but I'm very happy with what I was able to get done.