Spring forward

Every year I hope that someone somewhere manages to do away with Daylight Savings Time. It doesn't "save" any "time". It just annoys us all. Pick one and stick with it!

Meanwhile, spring is creeping into the yard. Today I spotted these snowdrops. Some of the "Tommies" (Crocus tommassinianus 'Roseus') are up as well.

I have a "new" camera, a SLR one that I am struggling a bit with. I prefer to use the autofocus feature, but it keeps focusing on the wrong thing. I guess I will have to step up and learn how to focus it manually.

This past week I sowed the rudbeckia seeds directly in the ground, as they need to be exposed to cold to germinate. The forecast shows the temperatures all over the place, so I am hopeful.

The latest piece of metal yard art (or fence art?) is up. I love it, but may move it to the side of the shed.

The other day a landscape guy stopped by to see if he could talk me into having my trees trimmed. My trees are not that big, not even the 35+ year old "Crimson King" maple in the front yard (the slowest growing tree in the world). I can't imagine hiring someone to cut off a lower limb or two that threaten my noggin while mowing. He left his card, which I later noticed included mosquito control as a service. The last guy who came to the door offering *that* got an earful from me. No wonder the bird population is declining so fast.

Spring has sprung

I no longer have forsythia in my yard, but I've noticed it elsewhere in town; ditto magnolias. The usual spring bulbs are on display in my beds, which always leads me to wanting more, especially drifts of snowdrops in the lawn. However, by the time fall rolls around, my garden energy is flagging. Now I have an auger to attach to a drill, the easier to create holes in my heavy clay soil, so maybe I will follow through on that desire come autumn.

The "fall cleanup" is almost done - just the north side of the house left to tackle. The removal of plant debris has revealed some mulberry and yucca that cry for eradication, so that is on the to-do list. The earlier one attacks the undesirables, the better.

The reception for my oldest brother's wedding this weekend was at a country club where the golf course is currently undergoing a major renovation, including the removal of many trees. Boo! Their goal is to return the course to its former (treeless) state. If they want to *really* get back to their roots, IMHO they should play golf in an overgrown pasture, complete with cows. Right?

Something new

Yard and garden cleanup continues, but this week with a surprise. In fall of 2017, I planted some pink snow crocus (Crocus tommassinianus 'Roseus') and early snowdrops (Galanthus woronowii). (I wouldn't know that but for this blog entry.) I don't think they bloomed at all... UNTIL NOW!

I had given up on them. Oh, ye of little faith.

I hope they spread far and wide in my front yard.

And then I dreamed that the regular crocus had bloomed as well. I checked yesterday, but it was just a dream.

Meanwhile, the ornamental grasses in the front are gone, as are many dead flower stalks in the back. The grass is turning green s-l-o-w-l-y. Buds on shrubs and trees are starting to swell. The vultures are returning from wherever they spend winter. It won't be long now.

Good-bye February!

My annual complaint, that February is the longest month of the year, is about to be stashed until next winter. I find myself thinking the worst is over, but it really isn't, despite the bulbs popping up here and there. March usually brings one more snowfall.

Naturalizing Daffodils

Yesterday I did some more yardening, pruning back the hydrangea, cleaning out this and that. I tend to work on particular plants, like the catmint and milkweed, instead of beds. There is more to do, of course, but it doesn't hurt to get a head start.

Pink Hyacinth

I did find a pair of hand pruners that disappeared last year, far from the area I thought they would be, oddly close to where my SO found his missing Fitbit. I'm also rediscovering my gardening muscles. All that winter walking does not help with the bending, stretching, lifting.

Pink Snow Crocus

Inside, most of the seedlings have germinated, even the 'Luna Red' Hibiscus! A germination heating pad helps. Right now, the only holdouts are the Japanese indigo (dyers knotweed) and the parsley.

Early Snow Drops

I ordered an electric fence to limit the dogs free space. I also bought them passes to the city dog parks. We went to Camp Canine at Johnny Appleseed Park yesterday, and they zoomed to their hearts content before my SO and I took them for a walk along the River Greenway behind IPFW. Today they are still tired.

Robin's nest from last summer

This morning's rain has given way to a little sun, so maybe I will venture outside again, before the rains return. Happy yard cleanup!

A few bulbs and corms

The light says autumn but the weather says summer, albeit a nice comfortable one. We still have not had a frost of any kind, let alone a killing one that transitions the garden to DONE. Most years we even have a little snow by now, but it has also been a bit dry. I am still mowing weekly.

I'm not a big fall bulb planter, partially because rabbits eat the crocus and tulip blossoms. Daffodils they leave alone, and hyacinth, grape and otherwise. Still, I decided to take a chance on some pink snow crocus (Crocus tommassinianus 'Roseus') and early snowdrops (Galanthus woronowii). These can be planted in the lawn, but since I have this perpetual internal battle over whether to treat the lawn or not, I deposited them along the border of edged circles that surround the Golden Spririt smokebush, the flowering crab, and the hawthorn tree. If they multiply and creep into the lawn, that is okay by me.

The trees have not turned, the leaves have not dropped, the zinnias continue to bloom along with the dahlia, which really picked up the pace. I debated over whether to try some fall transplanting, and today moved one Stella d'Oro daylily to front the flowering crab. Otherwise, I think I'll wait until spring.

How is autumn progressing in your neck of the woods? I'm guessing S-L-O-W-L-Y.