Saturday, March 7, 2009

Waiting for Spring

All of the snow hasn’t melted yet, but I’m anxious to get to work in the garden. Now that I can finally see the ground, I thought it was time to at least have a walk around. First stop: the deck. I planted some spinach here.

And pruned my grape vine, which doesn’t seem to be cooperating and forming the “trunk,” “branches,” and “canes” that my manual says it should be. I may decide to move it, and replace it with another container climber, but I don’t have many sunny spots in my yard.

The wood for my new raised beds should arrive any day now, so I pulled back the tarp and moved the gymnastics mat away from the beds that I marked out in the fall. The leaves didn’t break down as well as I’d hoped. Next time I’ll shred them with the lawnmower first.

I marked out the circle where I plan to put the wine bottle herb garden.
Then I wandered and wondered where my first bloom might appear this year. Will it be a hellebore?

A crocus?

A magnolia?

Maybe even a daffodil?


Whichever, I’m afraid the flowers are still a few weeks away.

10 comments:

tina said...

I am intrigues with that wine bottle herb garden. Can't wait to see it. I bet your first bloom will be a crocus. Hang tough, spring is near...

Anonymous said...

Oh, I feel bad for whining about a little dusting of snow today when you don't even have a crocus yet. :( Soon, soon, I hope! Can you get your dog to shred those leaves for you? Maybe sprinkle some kibbles in there...

Anonymous said...

3 yellow crocuses (croci?)here in Central IL yesterday - - you'll have them before you know it.

Joanne said...

Isn't it nice to just get outside and plan, look around, knowing Spring is so close? It's hard to believe that in just a few more weeks, everything in your photos will start greening up!

shausler said...

that photograph in your splash page with the butterfly, it really is stunning!! as are many of the photos on your blog, highly casual yet professional. I am forever impresed!

Anonymous said...

please explain about the wine bottle herb garden. Just how many bottles would I have to drink ? And how does it work once I have empty bottles and a spot for the garden?

R.L. Bourges said...

I second the anonymous questioner above.

JGH said...

I'm afraid I'm winging it myself with the raised bottle beds. I can only refer you to a post I wrote in the fall when I first got the idea that shows photos of how they are supposed to look!

http://nyackbackyard.blogspot.com/2008/10/raised-beds-bottle-beds-and-papier.html

I figure 5-6 wine bottles per foot of bed that you want to edge (?) I'm in the process now of digging a narrow circular trench (hard cause it's still frozen) to put the overturned wine bottles in side by side. Then I'll fill in with dirt and pack them in- luckily here it is pretty much like clay!

Hopefully I'll be able to fill in the raised circle bed with better soil and plant herbs.

Still very much a work in progress...! wish me luck :-)

tina said...

I had to come see that cute little poodle again. I'll be sure to tell Orkin she got kisses from New York.

Anonymous said...

It's coming...I promise. Spring is one the way.