Early Spring Gardening

I’m sitting here inside drinking coffee trying to think what constitutes “early” spring. Somehow, I think rather than trying to pinpoint an exact date for this event, I should be OUTSIDE just enjoying whatever season it is. Not that I haven’t gotten a chance to be one with nature (edit: oh, stupid cliché, my brain seems to be thinking in cliché this morning…please see me after another cup of coffee), but I know I could be outside more.

I actually started what I call garden prep in early March. There really was only one slight snow fall then and no more snow the rest of the month. In fact it was warm and pretty dry. It did wonders for the lawn, drying it up quickly. It was then that I cleaned up the front bank and trimmed the roses. I got the raking done at that time also. A few weeks later and I’d started the lawn mower…honest! No, the grass wasn’t long enough, but it was a quick way to clean up the lawn. Work smarter not harder! (Cliché number two if you’re keeping track).

Now, it’s April. The pansies are in pots, I actually did mow the front lawn and now need to weed whack it! I planted peas, lettuce and spinach. I’m worried the garden is too dry! I had to water it yesterday. Now it’s time to move to new tasks, like working on the Japanese garden, removing turf from it and preparing it for more perennials. I have to get the sweet potato garden set too, tear down the old fence and build a new one. This year I’ll have time to do it right. Last year I set to the task in a panic that I’d wake one morning and they’d be all gone, eaten by crazed rabbits in the night.


It’s looking like it’ll be a good year again for the roses. They have all sorts of crazy green life spurting forth on them! Everything will be making its appearance in May. So I guess I’d call May full on Spring. And I guess it doesn’t matter the name of the season, just enjoy it!