With the countdown to spring underway, it’s time to plan. Winterpast places high demands on me. She wants to show off her best spring colors, so I’d better get ready. There are many trees and bushes that’ve been removed. Now, the time for replacement has arrived. Updating a yard takes some thought and time. It’s nice to observe a yard at different times of of the day and from different places from the yard.
While the weather is still more winter than spring, I plan to organize and repair my garden tools. Many of them have been with me for decades, some even belonged to my dad. It’s time to organize, repair, and sharpen them. A wheel barrow has a flat. A rake needs a new handle. Ladders need to be hung. The shed needs a good cleaning. Projects that got put away for Spring.
Next, the garden needs a plan for 2022. A bank of Irises sit behind the shed. A beautiful lavender shade, they are the earliest plants to brave the desert cold. For two years, I’ve had intentions of moving them around the yard. This year, it will happen. With the Irises moved, there’ll be a savings on my water bill, always important when living in the desert.
Budgeting wisely, I plan to see how many trees I add. After removing some very tall junipers, I have a blank slate against the RV Barn wall. Two Japanese Maples will do nicely along that wall. There are a couple other places that trees were removed. I plan to put in five trees this year. Perhaps a peach. Maybe a nectarine. It depends what the nursery tells me will thrive in these desert soils.
Shopping for seeds I’m thinking butterflies this year. Lavender does very well in the desert. Honeysuckle is another plant that does well. I want color and beautiful scents in the back yard. Lots of color. Pots that overwintered need to be emptied, fertilized, and refilled. Pots relieve me of the tedious job of digging in the desert soils. If worst comes to worst, I can always depend on Mr. B and his amazing gardening services to help me out of a jam.
The back yard paths are covered in decomposed granite. After years, they need some attention. Rocks covering garden cloth need refurbishing. Bark needs freshening. All this as the sprinkler system needs constant repair. Gardening is such a healthy and healing activity. Growing beautiful plants is calming providing a time for meditation and prayer. Spring is the perfect time for both.
Be sure to check out on line videos on gardening tips for your area. Spring fertilization is important while things are still dormant. Late winter is the perfect time to separate and replant bulbs.
Don’t forget to freshen your yard art. Old bird houses might need a fresh coat of paint, as mine do. Wind chimes could use new strings. Patio furniture always looks good with a fresh coat of paint.
When planning your garden chores, plan your time wisely. My finish date is always July 4th. Dividing the weeks appropriately, you can be sure to get everything accomplished to meet your deadline. Having a dedicated garden calendar helps. Keeping track of the prior year’s freeze dates helps you plan for the next year. Or, you might have your own gardener like Mr. B, who will be calling me when it’s time to turn on the water.
If you do have the need to winterize and then un-winterize, it’s a good idea to take a video of the process. In a complicated yard like Winterpast, there are many steps in the process. By having a video, you can save a little money and do it yourself. It’s not a hard process, just a bunch of things you need to do in a specific order.
Don’t forget You Tube when you have a project to do. I am amazed that the number of things you can learn by watching You Tube. Even something as simple as how to open the hood of a Jeep Wrangler can be found there.
Tomorrow, I’ll give you a few more ideas for Spring preparations. These days, I’m a gardener who grieves sometimes. Today, it’s been one year, eleven months since I lost VST. This year, Winterpast’s garden beauty will be dedicated to his memory.
More tomorrow.