In the Garden: March 2010 Archives

I can see daffodils just waiting for one slightly warmer day to burst into bloom! The daylilies are coming up nicely, as are the tulips. The crocus are still in bloom, but the cold, windy weather has been hard on them. Some of the larger ones have been blown over, or perhaps the raccoons have trampled them.

The chives have greened up and I can see starts of feverfew in the herb garden. The forsythia is taking on a golden hue. I hope to do a little trimming in the gardens next week. I need to cut down purple coneflower stems from last year, as well as chrysanthemums and verbena.

Wednesday afternoon I spent about 90 minutes raking gravel out of the lawn. Dear Husband had to plow the drive this winter and he managed to deposit a good portion of the drive on the lawn. We've both worked at this project off and on for a week or so. DH moves the heavier stuff, and then I come along with a leaf rake and get the finer pebbles. I've managed to thatch that portion of the lawn at the same time. We still have a bit to do, but I think we are two-thirds through the project. It will be time to sow some grass seed soon.

This weekend I plan to start my spinach test. I have conflicting information on how early to start spinach seed out of doors in my hardiness zone so I'm starting seed in large containers this week and next, and then in the raised veggie beds in three weeks. I should be able to get an idea what conditions will work for spinach seed starting, so that I can get an early crop started next year.

I'm going to see if I can buy some pansies to plant near the front door for Easter. We need a little color to welcome our guests, and they should be hardy enough to cope with the cool weather.

I hope you're all getting the chance to get out and work in your gardens. I know it's rushing the year a bit, but I have cabin fever, and really need to play in the dirt. Happy Spring to you all!

Our chipmunk population has been redesigning our gardens. I have a wave of tiny purple crocus across the garden at the foot of the sidewalk. I was sure that I planted crocus closer to the front door! There's still one gold crocus, and a white one, but these tiny purple ones are multiplying and making a pretty spring statement.

The iris seem happy with the weather. I see short leaves from all of them. I hope to do a major redesign of the sidewalk garden and I'll be sorry to move all those iris. We haven't recovered from the move of two years ago. I suppose that means that this would be the right time to make the adjustments.

I wish I could tell you that I had made good use of the 60 degree weather yesterday and today. Unfortunately, I've been chained to my desk this afternoon. I may go out for 30 minutes to rake the gravel off the front lawn. The chipmunks aren't the only ones who have been redesigning here. Dear Husband relocated the lawn in four places when he plowed the driveway this winter, so we need to roll out the lawn and reseed. Too bad I can't get the chipmunks to work with DH. ;-)