You know, I thought I posted a few times last year...but they aren't here. Huh...
Anyway, spring has sprung at the Sacred Hart Suburban Animal Sanctuary and "Farm." The phlox, Queen of the Nigth tulips, and one or two lonely daffodils bloomed and have faded, but just in time for the irises (pictured).
We also had a litter of raccoons, which are just so stinkin' cute. Mama Ricki still comes around for food, but I don't know where she moved them.
I'll post my 'done' list but I've spent most of my time since April-ish weeding. The first thing to come up in the spring is typically NOT anything I planted, but weeds. All those things that I need to evict from the beds. So I spend 15 minutes a day, starting in the front and gradually move around the house. I am about halfway done now.
It is so interesting to see the diversity. There was a huge batch of chickweed, which looked like it would be easy to pull, but was not. Some plants spread out and so their roots are shallow; once you find the correct root, you can clear a whole bunch all at once. Of course some spread out and that root ISN'T that shallow. Some have thick stems with sharp thingies but if you hold them the right way, even barehanded and pull, they come out really easily. Then others have thick steps with sharp thingies and the only right way to hold them is with gloves, and they are not going to come out easily. (My favorites are the ones with sharp thingies ON their roots.) Some are even super useful if you get them harvested at the right time. I did get the dandelions to make wine with. I did not get the purple dead nettle in time.
So, what I have now is a mental library of various things growing where they're not allowed, and a repertoire of how to evict them. I usually explain that they can have the whole yard, just stay out of the flower/vegetable beds.
It is so interesting to see the diversity. There was a huge batch of chickweed, which looked like it would be easy to pull, but was not. Some plants spread out and so their roots are shallow; once you find the correct root, you can clear a whole bunch all at once. Of course some spread out and that root ISN'T that shallow. Some have thick stems with sharp thingies but if you hold them the right way, even barehanded and pull, they come out really easily. Then others have thick steps with sharp thingies and the only right way to hold them is with gloves, and they are not going to come out easily. (My favorites are the ones with sharp thingies ON their roots.) Some are even super useful if you get them harvested at the right time. I did get the dandelions to make wine with. I did not get the purple dead nettle in time.
So, what I have now is a mental library of various things growing where they're not allowed, and a repertoire of how to evict them. I usually explain that they can have the whole yard, just stay out of the flower/vegetable beds.
There's probably some deeper wisdom about all that. I invite you to find it :)
Here's what's happened so far. It took so much longer than it appears in writing... but also never takes as long as I think it will:
- 24 red onions planted Easter weekend (harvest around July 13)
- May 9
- red and white petunias around border of the front flower bed
- Marigolds around onions bed
- Red salvia of some kind in front bed near hummingbird feeder
- May 10
- Chadwick plant sale: bought and planted parsley, basil, marjoram, rosemary, and chamomile
- All sorts of bird feeder maintenance
- Weeded second vegetable garden bed
- May 11 (Mother's Day)
- Made a hanging planter for mom (I didn't like any of the premade ones)
- May 12
- Jim finished second veggie garden bed for me, started on third
- planted 4 bell peppers and 4 'mystery tomatoes'.
- planted marigolds (Need more marigolds)
- More birdfeeder stuff. All the hummingbird feeders are up (as of 5/11 I think). more regular bird feeders to get sorted, and probably need two more for the front.
