I've lost my drive.

It happened last year in mid February. I didn't notice if it happened this year, it was too cold to do anything constructive outside. Now that the weather has improved significantly, I don't want to do anything.

This afternoon, I came home from work and pulled the edgers from the two beds Carla and I laid out this afternoon. I don't like them. I removed one of the beds completely. They don't match the house. They are too pink. It's adding a new material in a yard already full of materials. I prefer the wooden raised beds. It looks more natural and blends with what I already have. Before I plant any tomatoes this year, I'll be building at least one, maybe two, new raised wooden beds to match the three I already have. In the morning, I plan to take out the rest of the edgers. Free or not, they just don't work with my palette. I'll have to reconstruct the one bed we moved. It shouldn't take long.

My materials in the yard include stone



Concrete



Brick



and wood.



There's another thing or three that's bothering me too. Besides being nearly disgusted by the sight of the dead oak tree and the surrounding carnage I created by removing it this year, the activity level on Brown Avenue is increasing. Loud shouting, mopeds, and car traffic can be heard everywhere in the yard. It's too bad. Last year, even without leaf cover, the lower corner of the yard was pretty quiet and private. I'm going to have to do something about that this year. I need to learn to propagate evergreen plants like arborvitae. I'd really love a Hemlock, more Magnolias, and a weeping willow, but I don't have the 30 years it would take. The willow is actually in the plans already. I hope they grow fast.

At least the privet in the gully will regrow without any assistance from me. And who knows what seedlings will pop up back there now that the soil is exposed to sunlight. I'm expecting a few hundred mimosa trees. The hummingbirds will be happy.

I've still got oodles of seeds left to sow. I managed to sow 36 six packs this evening before I gave up. I'm just not feeling it. If I knew they would grow, I would just scatter them. I know from experience that never works out well for me. Plus, my anal-retentive nature won't allow me to just let things grow where they want. I need to be in control of my gardens, as much as anyone can be in control of what grows where.

I'll get the seeds sown soon. I'll stick the 36 containers in the hoophouse tomorrow. At 71 for the forecasted high, those petunias and marigolds should sprout quickly. I'll also get my plans in order for the rest of the spring. I know there's still a chance of nasty weather, so I'm not too concerned about not being motivated just yet. I don't want to get behind though. Six months of blooms don't happen by themselves, or overnight.

In the meantime, I'll just settle for watching the garden come alive. Although, I was disappointed by the "hyacinth" that has turned out to be a little less stunning than I expected.



At least there are crocuses.





It's still 59 degrees.

Signs of Spring.

When I wake up to below freezing temperatures, I get discouraged. A couple cups of coffee and a bundled stroll through the yard gives me hope. Yesterday's snow is gone, even from the shady spots in the yard. It's coming, but Mother Nature is taking her own sweet time. We're a month behind last year.

Some of the 200 daffodils on the front slope are finally poking through the soil.



Ditch lilies at the end of the driveway are showing promise.



Hyacinths are budding, finally.



An Endless Summer hydrangea on the north side of the house has been in the shade all winter. Still, it shows promise too.



The birds have stripped the neighbor's holly tree. Two weeks ago it was covered with bright red berries and bright red birds.



There won't be any baths this morning. The stream in the gully is the scene of constant chatter.



It's 40 degrees. Weather.com says we should reach the mid 50s today. By Monday, we'll see daytime highs in the 60s, for at least a week. Only three more nights of freezing weather is forecast for the next 10 days. Come on spring. Bring it on. Everyone's ready.

I couldn't wait.

It's dark now. The sunset was gorgeous, as usual. I said I would post these tomorrow, but I took the photos today. And I do have a full list of things I'd like to get done in the morning, before lunch.

The backyard felt very warm today, even at 45 degrees. The robins were all over, scratching, digging, and aerating the soil.



Some of their work.





In the perennial bed, daffodils and hyacinths are marching on.





It was very cold the past two nights, but the camellia didn't care.



And check out who survived the freezes.







Wallflowers seem to be immune to cold. Ox eye daisy has germinated. And the large, round seeds appear to be a type of hibiscus, but I can't say for sure since I didn't read the tag in the container. One day this week, I want to get out and sort the sprouts from the non sprouts. It'll make it easier to find them when it's time to plant out. I should have alphabetized them.

Potpourri

In the perennial bed, there are two plants blooming that have similar blooms. One's a weed.





Hyacinths. This photo was taken this morning though I noticed them a couple days ago. We haven't even had a frost yet.



I'm still considering potting these begonias to bring in for the winter.



I did pot the last castor bean, the only really dark purple one I got out of the bunch. I also gave the Boston fern a haircut. It'll come into the basement in a couple days.



The castor bean has new growth, so I removed all the large leaves hoping to relieve some of the stress of being yanked from the ground.



Osmanthus fragrans is blooming all over the yard. They really put on quite the olfactory show after it rains.



I have to admit, I told a lie. I thought I had lost all my ginkgo seedlings. Apparently, several seeds germinated over the summer under one of the hostas I planted at the end of the driveway. I've marked them with a stake so I can keep an eye on them next spring.



It's a beautiful day with clear skies and leaves still falling from the oaks in the backyard. It's 55 degrees. The high today should reach the mid 60s.

Mother Nature is bi-polar

Yesterday we got into the 60s with clouds, high winds, and late afternoon sunshine. This morning, it's 43 degrees with overnight temperatures in the mid-30s. The clouds are still here, but the sun is trying to break through. I'll spend some more time this morning trying to find a job. This afternoon, I hope to get part of the perennial bed trellis built. I'm getting tired of looking at those 4 ugly posts sticking out of the ground.

3:55pm - 50 degrees, mostly sunny with light winds.

I installed the top rails on the trellis. I also installed the eye bolts and the wire that my vines will climb this summer. Not sure how I want to proceed, so I'll think about it a while longer before adding anything else.





Found more spring bulbs popping out of the ground. I think these are hyacinths. They're at the edge of the daylily bed between the mailbox and the sidewalk.



I applied for more jobs this morning. I even applied at Wal-Mart for anything from cashier to management. I passed the test, so we'll see what happens. I also applied for a couple of city/county positions. Next on the list are grocery stores and Family Dollar. I want my high school guidance counselor fired.