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Spring Gardens: Problems and Promises

Mar 30, 2001

It's come. That day when I walk out to the gardens - a sunny, warmish day that allows for a slow stroll and a minute inspection - to see what is coming up, what has been devoured by deer and to generally assess the work that needs to be done to get the garden ready.

It's enough to send me inside where I can pull the covers up over my head and say "Garden? What garden?"

You'll notice that there are no photos this week. That's because most of what is out there has the kind of beauty that only a mother (or the gardner) can appreciate just yet.Things will get better. But it's going to take a LOT of work. I don't want to frighten you with the harsh realities and we all know what a picture is worth. Make do with my words, instead.

My spring inspection tour started well - stunningly well. The first area I passed, coming out the kitchen door, is one that I stuffed full of bulbs last fall. And that garden has life springing up everywhere. Not only that, but the Japanese maples that will eventually grow together to form a lacy hedge came through the winter splendidly - only a small twig here and there that needs to be pruned away.

The woodland area looked good too. A lot of new growth is poking its way up through the surface, and a quick census tells me that all the little rhododendrons I planted to line a path down the slope to the woods survived and increased appreciably in size - all but one, that seemed determined to die from the first. It's inclination was so strongly stated that I had moved it from the path and gave it its own spot in what I hoped might be more favorable conditions. Apparently they weren't favorable enough. But this was not an unexpected death, and I bore it without any noticeable feelings of depression. After all, everywhere I looked I saw daffodils coming up - and almost none of the dreaded garlic mustard and greater celandine that will battle all summer.

I did find one small celandine plant and took great delight in pulling it up. Another enemy conquered! I felt good about that - my first official act of the gardening season.

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6. Mar 31, 2001 9:58 AM
In response to message posted by CarolWallace:
We are in the middle of a heavy snowfall warning here now Carol. The snow was a ...

-- posted by Rocksy

5. Mar 30, 2001 7:16 PM
In response to message posted by Rocksy:
It's hard right now to imagine being able to lie down in the grass. We're having flood ...

-- posted by CarolWallace

4. Mar 30, 2001 6:10 PM
I have to agree that it's so nice to have the tired feeling after a good days work outside. I have a lot of dirty work to do as soon as it drys up here, and I can't wait to get going.

Some days ...

-- posted by Rocksy

3. Mar 30, 2001 3:07 PM
In response to message posted by MaggieM:
I know exactly what you mean - I've sometimes doubted my sanity but there is somethin ...

-- posted by CarolWallace

2. Mar 30, 2001 2:43 PM
I can hardly wait to get dirty and to feel weary and achy and sleep well, dreaming the dreams of soft shade, warm breezes and colours other than brown! ...

-- posted by MaggieM

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