The State of the Garden

Right out the gate, I have to tell you 

I am so anxious to get out and play in the dirt.

I was home for a day this past weekend and the weather was above freezing

 so I put a jacket and gloves on and headed out there.

(garden)

We get so many leaves and pine needles that blow in and/or fall

that even though we "clean up" in autumn, it's difficult to tell.

Looking out back toward the sitting area was just atrocious.

(sitting area)

I grabbed the wheelbarrow and a spring rake and started in.

After 2 or 3 wheelbarrow loads, it was starting to look a little better

so I came in and warmed my fingers by the fire.

When I looked back out,

Mr LB had picked up the rake and had another wheelbarrow load started.

It's amazing how much debris finds its way into every nook and cranny.

(guess we'll just have dirty birds)

There was an unfortunate discovery since our last snow melted.

My bird bath in the center of the garden shattered.

It wasn't a cheap plastic/resin one, but

 when the lambs destroyed the garden two years ago, they knocked it over 

and probably cracked it or stressed it so when it froze this year, it broke.

(ideas in progress)

In light of that I decided to change things up a bit😉

I can't show you all I have in mind, because it's not finished.

I got cold.  It was a high of 35 degrees that day, and I am a wimp.

(believe it or not the "after" shot)

I have little seed packets starring at me, calling me, taunting me -

but I know it's too soon.

There is a quote on many garden sites about if you only garden 
from May to September,

you're missing the best part - the dreaming and hoping.

I can't remember the exact words of course but it makes sense.

(a friend brought this back to me from the garden show in Seattle)

Regardless of the temperature,

it felt good to get outside a move a little.

We got to enjoy the cleaned up view for all of a day before Mother Nature 

reminded us that it's still winter.

(view out the back door)

And our view of white returned once more.

So I guess it's like cleaning behind the refrigerator.

Nobody can tell it's done, but I know it,

and that feels good.
That was last weekend.
I believe it has snowed all but one day since then.

(view of what we call the big yard)

There was someone else who was glad to get outside 

and spend some energy too.

(Rip vs. Rope ~ looks like Rope is winning.)

PS~ See Bonnie, that green was just a temporary glitch in the weather system.