Signs of Life

Cast off those coats, pull out the grill.  The winter may not have had it’s last hurrah, but the sleeping ground of winter is gone and there are signs of life in every corner of our yard.

The roses which were cut low and covered with dried leaves are now uncovered and showing a bit of life.

My hydrangea bushes that I planted 2 years ago are showing some green now.  These took forever to come back after winter last year, and it was their first winter so I was worried that I had done something wrong and killed them.  They eventually showed up.  I appreciate them not being so slow this spring!

The peony bushes are coming in fast, like always.  I always think 

I can see daily progress with these.  I love peonies!

The daffodils are already blooming.  These were always my favorite as a child.

Last year I planted a bunch of perennials because I was sick of spending so much on annuals each year.  Plus, whenever I admired someone’s garden or spoke with a gardener of high regard, I always ask their secret and they always point me in the direction of perennials to develop, and 

annuals to just accent and fill in gaps.  

I should have written down what I planted last year.  All I remember was it was pretty.  A few of them are popping up.  I had completely forgotten that I planted some in the garden next to the summer kitchen.  I was weeding it this afternoon, and noticed all these pretty plants coming up.  I did a cheer as every plant that is coming up…I’ve counted 9…is one less that I have to buy this year.

I keep meaning to divide these tulips.  This year I’ll do it.  

I don’t have the pregnant excuse this year and you wouldn’t believe 

the things I get to do without triggering painful contractions.  

Yard work about did me in last year. 

The tree to the left of our house is one of my favorites, but Knut has long been suspecting that it’s dying.  Neither one of us will fully admit it, and hope it stays there forever.  I’m not sure what it would take for us to admit it needs to come down.  Knut remembers as a child this whole yard being full of trees, most of which came down in a wind storm.  He wants so badly to plant many, many more trees, but trees…well they don’t grow on trees.  Well, they do, but money for trees doesn’t grow on trees.  Maybe now that we’re not spending so much on flowers down the road we can buy…one.

We use to have a tire hanging from that tree, but Silje was just swinging on it a few weeks ago, and the rope snapped.  Just like that.  Thankfully no one was hurt, but it’s not the time of year for Knut to be attaching tire swings to trees.  Silje was annoyed and asked Knut how old the rope was.  

He said he wasn’t sure, but it was good enough when he was a kid.  

Her eyes got big “It’s so old you used it when you were a kid!”

Speaking of old, I realized this afternoon that Silje is more than half way to being a teenager.  

She’s closer to adolescence than birth.  I know…I am afraid.

Lastly, these gorgeous orange lilies have completely taken over the side garden.  I’ve been digging them out from spreading into the yard and completely overtaking the hydrangea bush in the corner there for a few years now.  Last fall when I was hugely pregnant, and Knut asked if there was anything that I wanted him to do in the garden, I told him I really needed him to dig up as many of the lilies that are trying to choke the hydrangea bush and spread into the yard up and throw them in the woods.  I’ve been throwing the ones that I dig up in the woods…not even planting them.  Then in spring, I look out 

into the woods and see dozens of gorgeous lilies.  It’s awesome.  See?

However, he must have missed some because in the picture above this one, you’ll see more lilies choking the hydrangea, and trying to spread into the lawn.  So next week I plan to dig them up and throw them in the woods, unless a friend or neighbor would like them.  (call me!)  

They’re gorgeous orange lilies.  Just perhaps too many for one house!