The Difference a Day Makes

"Pow" is a good way to describe the impact that a couple of warm days has had on my yard.  I walked out there today and saw so much coming up that I realized time is of the essence to clear the leaves from my garden beds.  Fifteen wheelbarrow loads later, most of the gardens are clear.  It is evident that several tons of mulch will be needed this year.

Pretty much everything is either up or is budding.  There are a few late starters in my garden, such as the dwarf crape myrtles.  It's sometimes all I can do to not pull them out and replace them with something else I've been eying at the garden center that is budding.  And when I say slow, I mean they literally don't show signs of life until almost the end of May!


I'm happy to report that the mild winter has helped everything get a kick start.  Unfortunately, the downside is that the bugs will be horrendous.  I have already seen a handful of flying "things" outside today.


My double-knockout pink rose bush kept its leaves all winter and it has put on a huge flush of new growth.  I'm so happy to see this, because all of my past roses at this house (all knockouts) have been spindly, poor bloomers.  I donated all of them to various other gardeners, and they've done well in their new homes.  So if this one thrives, then I will blame past failures on my choice of location.  Finding the right home for plants here is definitely a challenge.  Some plants have moved so frequently that they really haven't grown much.  Some have literally moved each year... or dare I admit, twice a year.  That's gardener's impatience at its finest.


Here are some photos of what I got to enjoy today.