Yesterday we took down the shamrocks and put up the giant Easter eggs and spring themed buoys. Easter is a little over two weeks away. Can you believe it?
I put on my snowsuit and went for a bike ride yesterday and immediately realized it was a mistake. Did I turn around? No.
When I was done though I made myself a cup of hot chocolate and thawed out for a bit.
It’s still pretty chilly around {mid 30’s} but some days when the sun is shining it seems warmer.
The snow is finally gone!
And the tulips we planted {to sell in bouquets} are starting to pop through the soil.
I’m excited for the spot alongside the house this summer. I plan on keeping it simple. Pole beans for the trellises, tulips then peonies down below and that’s it.
Neat and tidy. Just the way I like it.
The backyard is looking a bit shabby right now.
The grass is all matted {thanks to all that snow!} but I bet in about a month or so it will look pretty stinkin’ fantastic.
Especially because by then the HH will have built all my raised garden beds and I’ll be ready to get some cold weather seeds planted.
The space I’m looking forward to the most this year though, is in front of the studio.
Hopefully by this time next month the concrete will be gone, a new brick walkway {from the street to the door} will be in place and grass seed will be planted all around.
Once that’s done, it will be time for the HH to build me some window boxes. 🙂
Yesterday I planted a flat of rhubarb seeds. If I get 12 plants from 2 packets of seeds I planted I’ll be thrilled.
Rhubarb seeds are kind of cool looking, don’t you think?
In other news, the flat of peppers I planted a week ago still aren’t up yet. But that’s how peppers are. SLOW.
I used to get antsy about how long they would take but not anymore. They’ll make their appearance when they’re ready.
The English lavender I planted is still doing really well.
And so are the chives.
I love this time of year!
There is always so much possibility when it comes to starting a new year of gardening and I never get tired of it.
The next thing on the garden agenda is to get the tomato seeds started. But that won’t happen for a few more weeks. I guess I’ll have to find something to keep me busy until then. 😉
Here’s to another glorious day in Maine.
Have a good one,
~Mavis
Rosemary says
I bought all my plants and seeds and tomorrow is the day I will start planting everything in the garden. I know I won’t finish it in one day (because I’m old . . . LOL) but I hope to get it all done sometime this weekend. Tonight will be the last night of cold weather (high 30’s) and then it warms up. Starting tomorrow, it will be 70’s-80’s during the day and 50’s-60’s at night. I am soooo done with cold weather!
Mavis Butterfield says
I could go for 70 degrees right about now too.
Mary Olson says
Good morning! How can I get back on your e-mail updates? I just realized this morning that I had not seen any updates lately and I got a bit worried that something had happened to you! Then figured out that I was signed up with an old e-mail address that had finally bit the dust. I’ve been reading your blog posts since “back in the old days” when you were in Washington and really enjoy hearing about all your gardening plans and creative ideas with your house (and, of course, Lucy!). So I will add my current email below and hopefully will be back on your list so see what’s happening in your world! Thank you!
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Mary, I’m not sure what happened but I just signed you up again. 🙂
Annette says
Those rhubarb seeds look like stink bugs!
NCJill says
I came here to say the same thing, lol!
Suzanne says
Everything looks so fresh and happy. I started using a hedge trimmer on most things including my Austin roses as tidying has become a real chore lately. Looks pretty raggedy but I’ll be thrilled when we return in mid may. May I ask how you attach your rotating decor to the siding? I have a hunch your HH would be loath to screw fresh random holes into it with every swap.
Mavis Butterfield says
Most of the large decorations have notches in the back to hang the piece on the siding. 🙂 The nails are left in the building.
Lynda Rees Kling says
Plant that new area with flowers and vegetables.. not grass!!!
Judi Y. says
I LOVE the Easter buoys! They are so very spring like and pretty! They make me want to go out and plant flowers all day!
Mavis Butterfield says
The buoys are so much fun to paint. I’m glad people like them. 🙂
Sue S. says
My yard is still a mess of twigs, branches and tree litter from the snowmeggeddon that we had last month. What a mess! I’m curious about your trellises. You didn’t store them away for the winter? I lay mine down on the ground in place just so they don’t end up in a neighbor’s yard in a storm.
Pat says
A few years ago I purchased one small pot of garlic chives to plant in my backyard garden. I now have garlic chives lining both sides of the sidewalk from the back gate to the back door, around the garden pond and random other spots around the garden. I constantly trim them and pull up plants when they grow where they don’t need to be. But they make a great border and no matter how many times I snip when preparing this dish or that, there’s always more.