A Much Needed Trim

I finally got started in the gardens today, the weatherman had said it would be in the 70s, the weatherman lied, it was in the 40s for most of the day… Brrr!!  So instead of drinking iced Crystal Light while working, I was drinking hot Crystal Light (it works well for the citrusy flavors).


The weatherman is saying 70s for tomorrow… um… uh-huh… I'll believe it when I feel it!!

Tall Grasses have been cut down.

Despite the colder-than-expected temps it was a good day to get outside and get some much needed trimming done.  The tall grasses have all been cut down (they stayed pretty all through winter this year), and several bushes have been trimmed.  I  can clearly see my neighbor's house across the street from my front porch, at least until the leaves fill in and the grasses grow back up - that won't be long. I still need to split the tall grass clumps, they're getting too big (the largest is about 2 1/2 feet in diameter), and with Jeff's help I now know how (a Sawzall is a wonderful contraption).

All Grown Up!!

This is a Kalanchoe, when I first got her she was in a cute little metal pot only 3" in diameter… now the pot she's in is 10" in diameter and is way too small for her…  This plant was a gift from a friend (Sue Hillestad) several years ago when we taught a BSF children's class together.


Unfortunately she's gotten too big to continue to come inside the house, so when she goes outside this year she'll be planted in the ground… This was the first plant I ever had any luck with indoors… I hope she enjoys her final resting place in the garden, she's been a good green friend.

A Special Visitor

Ok, I know the pictures & video are terrible… 

But I had my phone in hand and did the best I could looking out the french doors from my bedroom (upstairs)… I didn't want to scare him off before I got pictures… its a FOX!!  

My kitty is just going to have to be content with staying inside for a while...

She's Finally Blooming!!!

Yipee!!  Hooray!!  

My Lilac is Blooming!!  This will be her 3rd Spring with me, and she's finally blooming… I'd about given up on her… now if the deer will just stop eating off the tips of her branches maybe I'll get to see some flowers :)


(sorry about the fuzzy photo… best my phone would do… next time maybe I'll have to break out the digital camera)

Patiently Waiting...

I, like my Pelargonium, am trying to wait patiently to get out into the garden… sigh… we both keep looking wistfully out the window hoping the weather stays warm...

Feels more like March...

Yesterday the temps started dropping, and today its definitely feeling like March in the Twin Cities… 30s/40s, cool, breezy, occasional showers… not a good day to get out into the yard.


That said, the weather today serves as a warning to all of us gardening eager-beavers: its still a little too early to start cleaning out the flower beds… (sigh)…

Tomorrow should be warmer (but with possible thunderstorms), I'm hoping to at least get outside to cut down my ornamental grasses & trim up some bushes… just depends on when that moisture hits… patience is called for… Perhaps I can get some seeds prepped indoors (vegetables)...

Working in the Woods...

The Woods… we have 1/2 acre's worth & have simply left them "wild" for the 4 years we've lived here… and they were getting a bit out-of-control… so today we started working on them, this will be a several weekend project…

Cutting out dead trees & thinning out seedlings… maybe someday we'll have the "retreat" in the woods I've dreamed of… we'll see… one thing at a time...

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...

New Growth on Current bush

 The Good:

Things are "Springing" here in Minnesota…

The bushes are putting out new buds/leaves…

New leaves on Spiraea bushes in front gardens

Oak Tree with Buds, Grass turning green

The trees are putting out new buds/leaves…

The grass is getting greener every day…

Yarrow (planted last year)

The flowering plants are showing themselves…

Geranium

Phlox (low spreading variety)

This needs to be identified (purple flowers)

The Bad:

Yes, the Dandelions are already back...

The weeds are already going strong :( …

The grass has grown way into my gardens due to the warm winter :( …







The Ugly:

The woods (1/2 acre worth) need to be thinned (they're way overgrown)...

 

My extensive gardens need to be trimmed & cleaned, but there's a warning that there may be a dip in the temps next week…

I'm trying to keep the dirt out from under my nails (though I confess I pulled up some stray grass & a couple dandelions)...

Things are peeking out of the soil...

Large Day Lilies

I haven't done my Spring clean-up yet, despite the warm weather it seems a bit premature to clean up so early in March in Minnesota… I'm trying to be patient despite the fact that the temp outside is close to 80 F.

Tulips

Buds on my Lilac

Small Day Lilies

Strawberries

Buds on one of my Honeysuckles

New Hydrangea...

Yesterday was… interesting…


I picked up this Hydrangea at the flower shop where I'd had to leave my car parked yesterday, as a way of thanking the shop for letting me leave my car there.  I felt it was a nice gesture on my part.


This will be my second Hydrangea in my garden (I have an Annabelle already), and yes I made sure it can be planted & thrive in Minnesota…


So though yesterday was… tough… I ended up with a pretty plant for my yard...

Oreo is ready for Spring...

My faithful little furry companion Oreo is longing for Spring...

What I'm Looking Forward To...

These are a few pictures from last year… just a taste of what I'm looking forward to… enjoy!

Foxglove growing in the edge of my woods...

California Poppies… I'm originally from San Diego (now live in Minnesota) and these remind me of where I grew up... 

The garden leading up to my front door...

Nice bright pops of color, pleasing to me and my buddies the Bumble Bees... 

New life springing up out of the moist earth... 

Even though its a lot of work I can't wait for my garden to grow...

New Growth...

Spring is fast approaching & I'm anticipating wonderful new life bursting from the ground… can't wait to get dirt under my nails, to startle bunnies, to hear the birds singing over my head, and to see the flowers bloom…


I find time in my garden to be at times meditative, at times frustrating, but always fulfilling…


I will use this blog to chat about gardening (I am an amateur) and share pictures of lovely garden plants…


Here we Grow!!