Green, with flowers

[primsong]

The weather around here has been unusually dry and sunny, making for utterly gorgeous spring springing all over the place. I've spent quite a lot of time lately on my knees, grubbing among the bulbs to pull up chickweed, quack grass and other nuisances. Lots of woody mallow and good ol' dandelions too. I've filled a hug yard-debris can with them and there's plenty more to go.

Blackberries are trying to take over the little stream that runs along the driveway - any thoughts on how to kill them without poisoning the water?

But oh, the yard looks so nice! I have zillions of bulbs coming up, so thick I can't even weed them without ending up kneeling on their companions - there's no avoiding them, they're so many! The lilies are coming back up, peonies too, the camellia is blooming - this yard is going crazy and I love it. Went to a native plants sale today and picked up 14 sword ferns for a song, plus two "mystery plants" that they threw in for free. They don't know what they are - twiggy little things in gallon planting buckets, LOL. Also got two Western Hemlocks for the shady side of the yard, as they will grow under the firs.

My shovel and I have our work cut out for us, I think. :-)

Comments

[siradaono.livejournal.com]

250 lbs of debris to the dump today...good day to work outside, eh Prim?

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Yes! We had our church workday this morning too, so I spent the a.m. weeding over there, and sweeping the parking lot. Thank goodness we had nice weather to help us spruce up the place for Easter. :-)

[lin4gondor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, yeah, rub it in. We're white, with ice. ;-) Not as bad as further north, we can at least get outside and the sun shone today, but it would be nice to see some green -- with flowers.

Some of the springlike birds are beginning to put in an appearance though, which makes it sound kinda like spring out there -- if you don't look outside at the thermometer which reads 32 if you're lucky. :-D

[lin4gondor.livejournal.com]

Blackberries! Wish you didn't have to kill them, but I suppose they will be a nuisance. No suggestions, really; but if I recall what my dad did with raspberries, it involves much shovel work. ;-)

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, you're probably right. I'll most likely have to resort to the Old Fashioned Way of long sleeves, gloves and a shovel. Bleah!

[voontah.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the blackberries. I once watched them pretty much pull a house down over the years. There was a neighborhood goat that used to be traded around town that we used to borrow (until we got our own), but that's probably not really an option where you are.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Actually, our neighbor had 2 goats until about a month ago. How I wish she hadn't sold them now!

[gondoriangirl.livejournal.com]

I am horrible with plants and making things grow...but I think I might be better at it if I had a yard like yours...of course you'd have to come out and help me plan it out!

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Gladly! Just tell me when you get one! :-D

[syrcleoftrees.livejournal.com]

Trellis? Cut them back to the ground and MULCH,MULCH,MULCH!!!!

I love blackberry jam,and I agree they can get out of hand,the briarbushes.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Hoorah for mulch! Great stuff - I can't wait until I can take the time/money to properly mulch this yard.

[elessar852.livejournal.com]

Blackberries? Eat them! :P

Mystery plants... I can't help but think of the plants in that Jumangi movie. Scary stuff!

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Eat them?!? Not unless I'm a goat...LOL! I love the berries in the late summer, but around here blackberries are a real nuisance that will entirely take over if you don't go around pulling them up every spring and fall. If let go they will form an inpenetrable briar mound, several feet high! I would hit them with round-up or something if it weren't right by the water. :-P

Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing what the mystery plants are - I'm going to put them in the greenhouse until they put out some sort of foliage and see if I can identify them that way. :-) Whatever they are, at least I know they are native to the NW, so they should survive in my yard.

[solodancer.livejournal.com]

Mystery plants huh? There wasn't a total eclipse of the sun just before you bought them was there? (dah dum)

(if you don't get the reference, you've clearly not seen Little Shop of Horrors....make sure you have plenty of bandaids around)

;-)

I'd love to have you come and play in my back yard too. You've seen my house and yard. It's small, but interesting. I think there is so much potential, but up to this point I have either not had the money, motivation or time to do anything wonderful with it.

Either I have the desire, but no money or time or I have the time, but no money or I have the money but no desire. It's weird.

I have idea's though. If I could ever get the motivation, time and money all together, it'd be wonderful.

You lucky girl!

[lizmybit.livejournal.com]

It's still very cold and snowy here. I am so ready for spring! Have fun!

[adaras-r0se.livejournal.com]

I do hope there will be photos of the yard when all the bulbs are fully up and showing their beautiful flowers! It sounds like it's going to be really beautiful.

I wish I didn't have the kiss of death where plants are concerned!