Green, with flowers

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. :-)