Just saw Julie and Jack in their yard. The rain today was brutal and cold. Worked in the yards Saturday and Sunday. Yes plural. Finally got started on cleaning up the beds at #14. Took down the chain link!

Even if the ground is still frozen about four inches down, spring is almost here.

Bought hen manure at East End. They don’t make good old 10-10-10 anymore apparently. Spread it around Astrid’s beds and a bit along the westerly beds on our side. Some up by the red bud, really hope it does well, this is its third year in.

Pulled and ate some green onion tonight. Nice but a bit strong. 15 bulbs of garlic are up and the rhubarb looks positively prehistoric. The deepness of the red stalk, simply crimson.

Little green shoots here and there. Overcast and about 15.

Found the muriate of potash at east end garden center. It does not call for much. Spread a few handfuls around. Put the winter fertilizer on all the grass front and back and rear of 14.

Ground is still frozen. Redid the front planters, put in pansies. A happy shot of colour.

Happy Birthday Astrid.

Dormant oil, by the directions. Well except I free poured the sulphur and the lime. I think I almost have it down. It does mean I have to keep the trees pruned to ladder height.

It was at least ten degrees and the night time temps are hovering near zero. Just had to put a few pea seeds in by the warm north west corner of the veg garden – in front of the figs. Fingers crossed. Used the last little bit of sulfite? on the blueberries. They are not looking too bad.

Prosecco with Jon and Astrid and Virginia and Dan on Astrid and Jon’s deck. John opened the cafe. Ken has a chest cold.

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First full day of gardening! Cleaned up hither and yon.

Bruce Tree Experts.

Put two tablespoons of 17-17-17 on each of the pears and around the cornus venus’. The ground is frozen, the compost is still icy from the snow I put in there this winter. The mulched leaves are a powerful insulater. The tree onions and the strawberry leaves are green.

Bought a pair of Easter lillies.

Got a six hundred dollar quote to have the sycamore and the cedars pruned. Should have done that years ago.

First day of actual puttering. Everything is frozen solid.

I think I have found it. A copper pipe trellis design

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This event keeps getting smaller and smaller every year it seems. A few hundred forced bulbs does not make for a lot of inspiration. Really a shame.

All I could find to take home was some trilliums!

$30 for six from Humber nurseries. I think I will pot them up now as I won’t be able to get them in the ground for another month or more and they are likely to start to sprout before then.

At least it’s another day that does make it feel like spring is on the way.

Showing the lower unit as they cut concrete next door. A fog of dust, even in our kitchen.

Come on spring! Where are you?

Had to get the Xmas lights out of the maple in front as the arborist is coming this week. Inspired me to do a little more winter pruning myself. Dan helped give the chestnut a major cut back. It was starting to grow over the front of Virginia’s house. It’s not in a good spot, but it is a volunteer that has been here longer than I have.

Cut back the figs as well. They are a good two inch thick trunk, but with this winter, and no covering, all I hope is that the roots are still alive and it will grow back.

Pretty much still four inches of snow on the ground and a lot of ice. Just breaking one degree in the heat of the sun.

Made my usual winter pruning gamble. Pruned the grapevines nearest the house on the north and south sides of the fence. To give you an idea here are the before and after photos.

A straw bale garden that is. Here’s the plan so far.