It was St. Patrick's Day and I decided I was done with Winter even if the weather wasn't! I had my own evidence from the planter I overwintered in the window that Spring was here ....coleus, petunias, and verbena were blooming....
Even the yet-to-bloom Agapanthus I bought two years ago and have brought in both winters has finally gotten a bud on it....
Putting away Winter gives me a good opportunity to do some serious dusting, so I really don't mind the extra work involved in putting away and taking out. Plus, I love the change of scenery! The forecast called for warmer temperatures the end of the week. I knew I'd be outside working in the garden and picking up all those downed branches the ice storm created, so I thought what better day to do this....maybe putting away my snowman tree would make the snow go away! So the first thing I did is make my Spring Easter Egg tree....
The fireplaces get ferns and dogwood flowers....
I add flowers to the candles....
And switch out the flower arrangements....
My dining room table gets a fresh look....
I exchange my red curtains for the blue ones, and Harry Richardson's Spring painting of his grandparents' house replaces the Winter painting of it....
The doll's house gets its own changes....the ladies have rearranged the furniture, the scenery changes outside the windows, and outdoors Rose is tending the kitchen garden....
The flowers and vegetables in the miniature greenhouse flourish and the birds and ducks and bunnies return to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of Rose's labor....
And last but not least, once it was warmer this week, Spring came to the front porch....
I turned my attention to the gardens....lots of raking and clearing to do there and I found more evidence of Spring....daffodil and tulip leaves...lilac buds...crocus shoots...primrose leaves....
Spring looks as though it's finally decided to arrive! But, I know how fickle she can be. Ken is reading about General Braddock's 1755 trek over our mountain (later named after him) on his way to battle the French and Indians at Ft. Duquesne. It was noted that the troops, who were just a day's march outside our town, woke up to a foot and a half of snow on April 16th!
Well let's hope that 1755 will not repeat a foot and a half of snow in April of 2014! I've been working in our yard these past couple days also. So many sticks have been picked up and more mulch beds have been cleaned. It's always a lot of work this time of year, but it is such a joy to be outside and in the garden. My husband and I have removed two nandinas that have become so invasive in our yard. I planted these and more as a lovely neighboor gardener gifted them to me. They grew and grew and grew---I think I'm now on a mission to rid my property of them. I need to focus on the inside decor as time permits--I love putting up the Easter decor and I guess that time is soon. Have a great weekend. ♥
ReplyDeleteI've just been out in my garden clearing out the debris. I didn't get to work outside as much as I'd planned because there was an unexpected shower this afternoon. The sun finally came out again, thankfully. My problem with invasive plants is ivy that snuck into my flower beds. Some of it I let stay and that was a mistake. Now I'm forever having to cut it back and pull it out when I can.
DeleteCathy, we've been through the ivy invasion. Some came through the fence at the back of our property and it became such a problem. I literally worked for years getting rid of it. Ivy is listed as an invasive plant in our area, as is nandina. Gardening is a learning process for sure! ♥
ReplyDeleteI like that your miniature house also gets a spring facelift!
ReplyDeleteIt gives me a reason to play with my dollhouse! :-)
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