Early Garden

We didn't really have a winter this year. Oh, how I have missed the snow and the snowflake photography!!! (I've snapped a total of three snowflake photos all year until Friday, when I got to snap 98 more.) Yet we've been missing out on a bunch of really good weather days we could have gotten some work done in the yard.

We finally took advantage of perfect weather before our first snow accumulation of the year. I stuffed three gigantic black trash bags with leaves. I feel like I didn't even make a dent, but I filled our trash bin. I couldn't fit anymore. So another good weather day will be required.

And just look what I found in my garden! In February!!! Hundreds more grape hyacinth and scores of full-sized hyacinths, daffodils and tulips also are looking like blooms might form soon. This makes up a tiny bit for lack of snowflakes this year!

The tiny little live evergreen I bought so many years ago when we realized we couldn't have a traditional Christmas tree in our house anymore and planted in a half beer barrel after trying to snap a potential Christmas card photo has grown a foot or two. I really felt like it was rootbound. So I dug a hole where I wanted to plant it in the ground. When my afternoon strong-bodied helpers arrived, they were frustrated with me because they'd offered to dig the hole. My back and hips were SO sore!!!

My helpers transplanted the little tree for me, and I'm as happy as can be! I think my little tree might love its new home, too. I still have some rock work I want to do at the base, but for now, I have a new tree!!! We're going to do this again in another month or two because I have always wanted to put a pair of apple trees in our backyard. Or maybe an apple and a cherry... My helpers threatened to not show up if I don't let them dig the holes next time.

Then my strong-bodied afternoon helpers went to work trying to dig deeper the holes next to our new pergola (they'd helped build it last fall, I think) so we can install my new trellis, which they helped me build about a month or so ago. I didn't know we needed to plant the trellis in the ground in cement. I was pretty naive. I should have known there is NO friggin' way the trellis would stay in place in our winds!

Now, two of the four holes are deep enough, and my helpers ended up having to saw a huge section of a humongous root out of the ground because it crossed the path of the second two holes. So we didn't get the trellis in yet. But the root is gone!!!

This likely was one of the roots that messed up the plumbing beneath the basement of my house. It should be made of gold for what it has cost me so far. Perhaps I should pay someone to carve it into a garden ornament for me...

So, at least one more digging session will be required. Plus the mixing of the cement, planting of the posts, then installation of the trellis. And we'll need more of this excellent weather for the cement to cure.

With my luck, that day will end our drought and our winterless 2026. Just like washing my car causes it to rain. Hey, I guess I should have been doing that all winter (and fall)!!!

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