Daffodil Show

The Pollinator Display won 1st Place Blue Ribbon from the National Garden Club at the Daffodil Show in Chambersburg, PA.

Best smelling nest in the valley!

After taking down the horse fence, I had some Norway Spruce planted along the back of the property.

My hope is that I can attract a wider variety of birds by creating a tiny grove of protected habitat.

I do have an ulterior motive.  Photography.  My new trees are not very big yet.  Only 4-5 feet tall at this point.  But I am delighted to see three birds nests in the nine planted.  This far exceeds my expectations for this year.  This photo is a nest with eggs belonging to a pair of Mourning Doves.  If you notice in the back, they have a dryer sheet woven into the nest.

This is partial view of another nest build by a pair of Mocking Birds.  They've stolen pieces of string used to tie sections of rolled up horse fence, which we've stored on the flat trailer.

The birds have the whole recycling thing down better than I do!

Early Foragers

My neighbor, Nancy, has the most beautiful azalea in her backyard.  Unfortunately it grows under some maple trees and doesn't get very much sunlight.  As a result, there's never very many flowers on it in the spring.  This year though, it has produced more flowers than I've ever seen it produce.  I'm not sure how much of that has to do with the storm damage to our 25 ft. arborvitae growing nearby.  The ice caused a huge chunk to break off of one side.  Oddly enough, the side facing Nancy's azalea.  Or how much of it has to do with our cutting down the English walnut tree this winter.  Also growing nearby.  So perhaps it got more sunlight than in previous years.  Or maybe it was from the pruning back I did to it last year after it was done blooming.  With Nancy's permission of course.  Or was it just a combination of all of the above.
In any case, it has been there for a good number of years without much tending to. 

It is the most beautiful shade of pink/red/coral rosy color.  And the bees just love it.

I do too.  In fact, I find myself completely enchanted by it this year.  And like the bees, I think I'm going to show it a little more love this spring.

Give us this day our daily bread

The Ugly Spot

Yesterday my husband and I attacked the ground alongside of the old barn/service station that faces the kitchen window.  It is one of two ugly spots on the property.  Especially so since I have to look at it every time I do the dishes.  Which oddly enough seems to be about ten times a day.
Before my arrival to this property, someone planted "the ugly spot" with a row of beautiful peonies.

And now they share space with mutant weeds, randomly sprouting mulberry trees, poison ivy and various brambles that warn of dire consequences which will come with any attempt at eliminating them.

The key is to get up there before anything starts to seriously grow.  Like NOW!

We went forth with saws, loppers, pitchforks and rakes.  And in no time at all had the old debris cleared out and raked in a row out in the recently dismantled horse paddock.

Let me digress here for a moment.
What is it about men that they see the need for bigger power tools with most any outdoor chore or project?
While I was still raking, my husband decided the John Deer was needed on the scene to cut up the debris.  Which of course contained long strings of old poison ivy I was extremely careful of avoiding contact with by using a long pitchfork.  He starts into the row of debris from the other end with what I refer to as "the testosterone gleam" in his eyes.  So intent he was on mowing down the long pile, he never noticed me waving the rake in the air like a mad woman, trying to get his attention.  I watched in horror as the debris spewed forth, creating a dust that was carried downwind, away from my husband.  I bet you'll never guess where I was standing!  I only wanted him to let me get upwind while he had his way with the pile.
All I could do was run for cover around the side of the building and say a prayer the poison ivy bubbles would not reach my lungs when they arrived.
Back to the ugly spot.......
Somehow, perhaps due to the early start of their growth, the peonies manage to grow up through and around all of this junk and still look beautiful.  And I saw the first inch or so peeking through the soil yesterday.
Last year I swore when September arrived, I was going to get up there and rescue those peonies.
I blinked and September was gone.  This year I've vowed to stay on top of the weed whacking around the peonies, kill the poison ivy, and come September plan my rescue mission.
I know Mother Nature has a sense of humor and the joke will probably be on me.
But for now, the ugly spot is bramble free and beautiful!
I now wait for the poison ivy bubbles.

Glimmers of Spring

The countdown to spring has begun! The snow is doing a quick retreat. 
I see the first nubbins of tulips peaking through. The robins are doing their mating rituals, mockingbirds are gathering nesting material, and the shabunkins, koi, salamanders and frogs have come out of their winter hideouts in the pond!

I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year.

I am so eager to be done with the snow and cold.  I'm filled with excitement about my flower beds and what cool creatures I might photograph this year.
My heart beats fast over the plant and seed catalogs.
And yet.....I know it's the beginning of 8-12 weeks of seriously hard work.  Waking up mornings feeling like I've contracted polio overnight from gardening the day before.  This year, Wii Fit has entered my life.  Maybe that part won't be so bad.  Or perhaps that's wishful thinking. 
Spring:  Time has a way of evaporating into thin air, causing me near angina, for fear of not getting to something in time.  Plants could care less what your schedule is.  They don't wait for you.
In addition.......all of those "over the winter" projects I had delusions of grandeur about, have now moved to the "git r done or forget it" pile.
We're talking mere hours left to wrap things up here people!
Especially challenging when you work full time.
I begin a season of laundry piling up, dishes left in the sink and dust buffalo rolling around the house .  Yes you heard me, dust buffalo.  They replace the bunnies when spring hits.  More angina.
I did say I love this time of year, didn't I?
Bring it on!