soaphouse's Blog

Persistent Winter
Mar 12, 2010 | 6:24 AM PST
Tags: crocus , daff , tree , snow , vector , rain , ornamental grasses , pruning

We have had quite the unusual and persistent winter here! February and March have been sprinkled with alternating days of flooding rains, snowfall and 70 degree days of sunshine. It has been an adventure to say the least! The kids have loved the snow:

Each snow has topped a few inches on the landscape - which is quite something here in hotlanta! 

The crazy weather and my work schedule has made it harder to get out in the garden. Luckily - it is at the stage where most of it takes care of itself (woo hoooo!)

I did tackle the annual chore recently of pruning back all of the ornamental grasses. I usually do that with a pair of scissors! HAH! But - I have SO many now - that just seemed to daunting. So, after some poking around I found a friend of the family with an electric hedge trimmer that I could borrow. What a wonderful invention! I can see why people get carried away with those and end up with lolly-pop trees! That made the task super easy. I MUST put one of those in the budget for next year! Also, instead of taking the time to bag up all the cuttings and lug them to the curb, I decided to use the "free mulch" around the veggie beds:

 

Not a bad idea if I do say so, myself!

Speaking of the veggie beds, all of this moisture and sun has prompted all the fall seedlings (that didn't grow much in the fall/winter due to the extreme cold that we had in the early winter) to start growing. So, I may have a spring crop of brussel sprouts to enjoy! Of course, the same conditions have also prompted all the weeds to start growing. But, the moisture has made the soil prime for the pulling - and I plan to tackle some of that this weekend!

The deck is finally completely finished - other than adding furniture!

 

I just love it! Hubby did such a good job and I can't wait to enjoy it this spring and summer! We also plan to add some planing beds around it and a gravel path at the bottom of the stairs. So FUN!

We took advantage of the yucky weather and being forced inside to do some great projects on the interior of our home. We have redone some things in the sunroom (which feels like an extension of the garden - due to all my windows.) We also completely redid the kid's playroom/guestroom! And - Hubby plans to do a complete demo of one side of the house and loft the ceilings this spring! He does stay busy!

Spring is officially happening in the garden and I was so blessed to see that ALL of my crocuses bloomed this year!

The lilac is in waiting once again and I am hoping it will bloom this year - being its 3rd year in the garden. (Although I understand that some have to wait many more years to be graced by a lilac bloom)

THe daffs are bursting today and will be all all their glory soon!

I truly have been gardening on the computer lately - as my most recent work project has been doing some vector illustrations of trees in their seasons. I also had a fun opportunity recently to contribute a small article on "spring gardening tips" for a website my church did for Easter. But, I am super excited to get my head out of the computer this weekend and out into the garden!  Except that it just started pouring down rain again!

Happy gardening everyone!