I bought something I thought I would never buy (after a snow blower): a leaf blower. The problem was all the clumps of dead leaves crowning the cotoneaster and mugo pine. I have tried all kinds of rakes to try to clean up the area, to no avail. So last night my SO and I trucked over to
Home Depot to check out their leaf blowers (do we know how to have a good time or what?) My intention was to buy the smallest electric one they had, but did you know that the bigger models can also
vacuum? I did not know that. And the more I thought about it, the better that sounded. Why stir up a bunch of dead leaves into a whirling mass only to have them land somewhere else, when I could suck them up instead? And shred them in the process? Sounded good to me.
After crabgrassing today, I was feeling lazy and contemplated skipping the blower/vac thing. But I decided to at least put it together, and once it was together, I had to plug it in and see how it worked, and once it was working, I thought I might as well suck up those clumps of dead leaves. My technique needs a little work - the extension cord kept winding up between my legs and I had to adjust the strap on the bag several times - but I did suck leaves. At the same time, I was acutely aware that I was
vacuuming my bushes. How anal is that?
Time to tour the yard. BTW, I took these photos
before vacuuming, so please excuse the mess.
The rabbits have not eaten the crocus... yet.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbb5uYr66IY-iUX6gQv7FckzGffECHLqw0e7lhs0NIBoiWXdG-tWMbEk-LiAdMw0r0ZcOUXTWKHIzfgOJgIq4qJnA6k_h5VlRmLiDg3gVnLI31ooL7wNB7zkak7iuD4ElWGn-jw/s320/IMG_0989.jpg)
The tulips have made an appearance.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpQv38FXS8I5yX5JPk02QeUKBBQJwka58RR47wUkZWAxyr4EVV2JW7K-hLvMe4BrY6iycA9EwoiEjRgJzjDZgMdaQB8D4D6-KCduj6VQIna7e5cQD7tO0B0Rzbxt85HWEmSnWrg/s320/IMG_0991.jpg)
If you look closely, you will see the coreopsis starting to peek out.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTupdzHuxaIhSyck8uRrUrcB4chCRd523P3xTXZIy_UKkmXqTQYiE9oxHjWs1fTo4WaWWigqmXUxJ92oVaGWlOeITUuXx0lf537xiq71AUHR-zwXbng_aUDTePaVdOhV-9QzygZw/s320/IMG_0992.jpg)
The hyacinth are up, too.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkErlMdyBR8yp_LQnVnWULsfbcpJFA3cNpueznfqIvYFr-UWQUsYAkQoXuoOlo8tx6uiI0v9YrP3sOeRhbgM77Y8Cnb5TrNtU-zU4-ndSDP1eDl30xQxDHDyCedMNpliAJybBVA/s320/IMG_0993.jpg)
And the daffodils are almost ready to pop.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj5DlKRizaXTdKP6_vPVJ8l4OVlxF0tZsvfiRuRf57vDaUwi3WETUsWCMXjtSkQ_UjGL3OpzS_WAiBU48q9OiU3Ths3NPMx7VEToj-O6OQB13w371amDZg7xPkdKb581NAmShxw/s320/IMG_0998.jpg)
In the foreground are chives, in the back spearmint.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh6ITRxjy7GwiIO6npwpVWl-YTb6lZ9LKkELu7rK7Iu15ZaGWNEMPBKYUPFppbTrFLy35qmWMQu28HsFKGs1cxQ4vgm-pJSxb07KfjwnEL5mIvm1EdJE-wM1rNqkGrxLDrxc2Qg/s320/IMG_1001.jpg)
And the rhubarb lives, although the strawberries are looking thin. I planted the rhubarb in the top level of a strawberry pyramid. I love strawberry-rhubarb pie, so it only made sense to plant them together. Right?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sAPqzlccfZzcSFgN5uXaD3Ugs6ME9av_DJywIfNgYWOtiDB6b0x8n4iipSy6pp9YpbTJZQfMjChjT3ALTyrren5Syyr78cZtRdXyDrVjm2z1weV-6OG0CZj2-TvS-ifqNJbbBw/s320/IMG_1009.jpg)
The rabbits gnawed on the burning bush this winter.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrf6djP9E6BfKx9fO8lZGvOhy7trm06M_LTcSbCr3KH_skzE14ClLbnKSWhFguacfua_yKr4K44xVpFHBom5bA-kqDa8vcD0hvNbBTlMUZUV_heSQBb6NZ_qrSAg-E_zApBLZxg/s320/IMG_1006.jpg)
And I wonder who lives in this little hidey hole. Maybe a chipmunk? Under ordinary circumstances, a hosta grows here, so I am curious to see what happens later on.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJfWGyUxg-DMmT4wx48Mi8b-OspfHbngFeylXs_yKiDPhYEVFyEwpO8mFbVtzs8rplLEnf3cqNU8efPE7zH1FeDcekH6RK_AJGy_AtTCqpEV8_YtbIfQ9rUcf_U3FoSXaWEjy0Q/s320/IMG_1007.jpg)
Today was the first shorts day of the year, but I am trying not to get impatient. Two years ago, I put my houseplants out on the deck too early and lost a huge Norfolk pine. Last year I hit the greenhouses before they peaked, and had to return again and again to get everything I wanted. It helps that I am planning to take a week of vacation in May, just to play in my yard. Hopefully, I will be in better shape by then.