Spring Garden Chores

I absolutely LOVE spring, even though it's the busiest time of the year for the gardens. Day before yesterday I was able to burn off part of the slope garden (it has been sadly neglected for the last two years.) The numerous bunches of daffodils weren't so happy-looking by the time the fire reached them. Did you know that daffodils melt? I tried to rake the dead leaves away from each group of daffs, but couldn't quite stay on top of it. Sadly enough I had to let the fire go out and then do a breathing treatment because of my asthma.

I'm ready to till up the garden and put out radishes. There's already three hills of potatoes in the ground. Normally I wouldn't till in the spring because it just brings up more weed seeds, but last fall I didn't get a chance to till in the leaves. They sat on top of the garden all winter long, thinking about decomposing but stubbornly not doing so. I will also add a few bags of commercial cow manure and compost (from my own bed) to enrich the soil.

Tomorrow, if Alana doesn't go into labor, I plan on mowing the west side. Last year the leaves were allowed to lay where they fell (I ran out of time) so I want to get them mulched up before they kill out the Kentucky Bluegrass. It's important to get the lawn cleaned up because there will be an Easter Egg hunt in the yard.

I can't wait for the wood pile to dry out. There's nothing better than hamburgers cooked on the fire pit! The winter winds and heavy snow broke off many branches, so I will have to spend quite a few hours collecting them. It would be easier if I had a wagon to pull behind my Sears Craftsman lawnmower, but I don't. I've had one on my Christmas list (and Mother's Day list, and Valentine's list, etc.) for the past two years. I miss my wagon!

It's a little too early to fertilize, but I have gone ahead and put out grass seed in the obviously bare spots in the lawn. I take the easy way out...instead of raking or tilling up the soil so that there is good seed-to-soil contact, I sprinkle the seeds and then cover them with a light coating of potting soil. The birds can't see the seed that way, plus it gives the roots a nice easy soil in which to develop. (That was an awkward sentence.)

I have hundreds, if not thousands, of dead stems to remove from the gardens. I leave the purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan stalks on during the winter because the birds enjoy eating the seeds, and it gives interest to an otherwise flat garden scene. Obedient plant and hosta stems also need to be removed and put into the compost pile.

There are many other spring chores to do (spread mulch, distribute Preen) but my hands are going to be full over the next few days taking care of the basics.

I'm SO glad it's spring!
shel

Computer Blues & General Update

Well, I've done it again. I tried to hook up Xanado to my computer (oh, how I long to be off of dial-up) and messed up my computer. After many hours of cursing, I was able to do a system restore to go back to the day before I hooked up Xanado. I am finally able to get online. Yippee!

The Sears repair man had bad news. My lawnmower is in bad shape. The last time Max put new blades on it, he didn't put them on correctly, so the star-shaped bumpy things that rotate the blades got worn off. The shafts need to be replaced. I had to pay over $200 up front, and will have to shell out another hundred when the repair man works his magic. I really miss having a lawnmower, and am regretting purchasing this Craftsman.

The same day the Sears repair man was here, the Dick Van Dyke guy came. My extra fridge in the garage is kaput. It would cost $150 to replace the two pieces that are burnt out, but in all likelihood they would burn out again because the compressor is probably shot. A new compressor would cost $500. It's just not worth it. I'm going to try to give it away on Freecycle if Chuck doesn't want it.

On the GOOD news side........
Shannon and Rick are going to a Winery for the night and asked me to babysit Phoebe. I'm so excited I'm giggly. Their place is like a spa...I can go there, sit in the sun room and read my book, take Phoebe for a walk, and drink hot tea all night while I soak in the tub. I love going there.

Bryan has been ill but is now feeling better. Darn cold! Little Gabe is sleeping on Max's chest right now. I don't' know which one is snoring louder.

The garden is actually starting to put out. I got ONE zucchini yesterday, and picked four tomatoes the day before. If I got out later on today I will probably get a dozen more tomatoes. They are finally starting to turn. They look beautiful, but still have that grocery-store taste. I never thought that I would wish for hot weather, but the tomatoes just aren't the same without it.

Last night I repotted Erin's peace lily (the poor thing will probably die as it was rather abused when I got it) and two of my three Christmas Cactus. I set the CC's outside so that they will bloom during the holidays. By putting them outside, they are subjected to the shorter days and cool night temperatures, which is required for bud formation.

Dad had surgery for his cataract. He's doing well. I will go over there Saturday to pick up their lawn mower. My grass is long and is in dire need of a haircut.

Oops, the cell phone just made the 'you have a message' noise, so I'd better sign off. Someone may be trying to call me on my home phone, and I have only one line.

Hope you are all enjoying yourselves.

shel

Mowing Mullings

Unlike most Americans, I do my best thinking while on the lawn mower. After Alana picked up Gabriel tonight I filled up the mower and started on the yard.

Now that I'm sitting here typing about my thoughts, I can't remember any that I had! LOL It's hell getting old.

The lawn is still green and lush, which is very rare for this time of year. Usually only the Creeping Charlie is happy. The cool temps along with the generous amounts of rainfall that we've had here in central Illinois have made for a good lawn. Unfortunately it has also made the weeds happy! Now is not the time for me to use Weed & Feed, though. I will wait to do so during the first week or so of September. In the meantime, I use Round-Up in spots where the Creeping Charlie is really bothersome. My mower blade is set as high as it can go. I won't lower it again until fall, when the grass is actively growing.

I wish I could have a lawn mower designed especially for me. I love the Sears Craftsman special anniversary edition that we have....for the most part. I would be happier if it had arms so that I don't slide around on the seat when I'm trying to mow on a slight slope. I'd also like the blade mechanism to work easier, and to be closer. Each time I turn the blade on I am almost off of the seat, and the lawnmower stalls. This thing wasn't built for a 5' tall woman. (Oh, it wouldn't hurt if the mower were pink instead of shiny gold.)

The darn poison ivy is popping up all over the place. Oh, how I wish I could clone a Japanese Beetle that would dine exclusively on poison ivy and Japanese honeysuckle! All of the other Japanese beetles would breed with them, and the normal beetles would become obsolete. My roses would be safe forever! (Yes, I think crazy thoughts while I'm mowing!)

I couldn't finish the back yard as I found a baby Downy or Hairy woodpecker. I'm not sure which it is. The poor thing was on the ground with his head twisted oddly to the right. I thought perhaps it was dead, but the loud mower scared it. The fledgling tried to fly but couldn't do so. I didn't know whether I should put the bird over the fence and into the woods in back so that Sioux and Lakota, the dogs from hell, couldn't get him or if I should let Mother Nature decide the bird's fate. I finished mowing around the dog kennel on the east side of the back yard and, when I got back over to the bird area, the thing was gone. I hope it found safety somewhere.

There have been two or three sick raccoons in the area. The conservation folks said that distemper was the culprit. While I was mowing near the woods I got the strangest feeling of being watched....I started thinking "What if it's a sick raccoon watching me, and it decides to try to attack me?" Silly, I know. Just to be on the safe side I went to another part of the yard.

People in Alabama tend to name their homes. I decided that this place should be called Hickory Hills. I can just see a big sign hanging above the driveway....

I know there were at least a hundred other random (and some pretty weird) thoughts that went through my mind, but I just can't remember them. Maybe next time I mow I'll take along a little hand-held tape recorder. With my luck, I'll probably run over it!

Happy mowing,
shel