Return to Gardening!

I've been cutting back & raking out all Friday & Saturday. Finally trimmed the new lining on my pond, moved a bunch of rocks around on its border, and removed barrels of leaves from the pond.Our weather was wonderfully cooperative, though my soil is totally soggy.

I am happily sore and very glad to be back outside in my gardens. It feels good to be alive and to be a gardener in Spring!

what are you temps these days, Dave?
We had Friday/Saturday dry, but the skies opened up today for the majority of the day. And the wind! Chilllly!

Isn't it a great feeling, finally. My first garden day of 2008 was yesterday afternoon. Boy did it feel good to get out there even for only a short time. Cleaned out and cut back two beds. Lots of stuff coming back out there in the warmest part of the yard. Tons of oak leaves as usual to move. Left a little so the new shoots won't get too shocked by losing all their cozy cover. Daylilies, sedum, salvia, digitalis, catmint, achillea all have started up again. The thing I was most anxious to see return was all the delphs that were planted last year and it looks like they all have made it through the winter well and are sprouting too. Got my first splinter and first dirt under the fingernails, it was glorious!

Glorious is the word! Just to feel the sun on your face, move the muscles, and breathe deep the Spring air - then sneeze from the pollen you stirred up by raking!

I have no greenery coming up...but i can see dirt! It's frozen, but at least it's not white!!!!!

I was out briefly on Saturday and cleaned up some leaves in the front garden, and yes it did feel good. No sun today and a few flurries in the air. Soon.

Katye, we are forecast for temps in the 40s all week but it sure felt like it was ,at least, in the 50s this past weekend. Great gardening weather for me. (I also like having a good excuse for a late start: "I have to wait for it to warm-up a bit").

ngam, great news about your delphs! They always disappoint me.

I'm very glad for all the early mild days. I started raking a few weeks ago, and I'm grateful to be able to get that done a month earlier than usual. Plus, with Easter out of the way now, too, it leaves April more open for other tasks.

I am envious Dave. We haven't hit 50 since October.

I would have been out the past few days, but we had company and now I have the kids until Wednesday. I'll try to get a little done later. Took some pics though! More things in bloom.

Good for you Dave - I am a tad bit envious!!! I am so ready for this snow to be gone so I too can clean up the yard....I just love doing that stuff. Any reason to be outside is a good one for me!!!

Al, I hit 50 three years ago. It'll come sooner than you think.

Thanks Dawn

I think it hit you, Dave.

I always wanted to hit . 350

You and me both.

My wife hits .350 in golf.

With or without the decimal point?

I miss golf too, can't wait for warm weather.

That's one sport I never got into at all. Prolonged torture.

She hits the ball about 1 in 3 attempts.

When I first started it was nice just to be on a beautiful course, then I started doing better, and that's when it got frustrating when I didn't do well.

I did get a hole in one my fourth time golfing!

And a ten on the next hole.

Miniature golf is more fun. And much cheaper.

My bro got a hole in one when he first started too.

This message was edited Mar 24, 2008 10:07 PM

Should have quit then Debi.

probably!

Debi, were you miniature golfing when you did that? ;^)

I think UConn shot about .350 last Friday. A first ever 1st round departure. Oh well. The women may win it all.

It was a short hole, but before I swung, I turned and told DH "hole in one, baby" and it worked.

Yeah - lots of upsets so far. Duke too.

Such a shame about Duke ;)
Wisconsin is still in, not as good a team as last year - but who knows.

Belmont should have beat Duke in the first round! Wisconsin looks good.

Does Belmont have the horses?

The Belmont Steaks?

Will the Tar Heels get stuck?

I hope we don't have the most posts next week because of posts like that!

Can the Trojans protect the basket?

Please return to your garden, Dave.

Finally started my cleanup and cutting back today. A note about clematis that some may not realize. If you are growing one that is a group 3 - blooms on new wood and normally gets cut back hard in early spring - you don't HAVE to cut it back hard. For example, I am growing many varieties, including 3's, through my shrubs. Once it's established and is not going to send out any more additional stems with hard cutbacks, I may choose not to cut it back hard so that it grows higher into the shrub. Contrary to what some may believe - it will still bloom fine. It's just that the 'new wood' will not be starting at ground level, but from where last year's growth stopped.

That is good info for people Victor. I usually cut mine back when I prune roses and cut back Butterfly Bushes.

OT; is anyone else having a hard time getting the forum to respond. It seems to be taking a very long time to open this afternoon. I am not having trouble with any other site but DG.