No special celebration went on at the DV except for a lot of backbreaking yard work. If I'm not in my studio, I'm outside. I have to admit that I've been procrastinating when it comes to repairing the last of my windows. As I expected, my enthusiasm faded due to the repetition and tediousness of that type of work. At least it's the least damaged side. I should start on them soon.
Here are things with which I've been quite happy breaking my back: planting two crabapple trees in the garden boxes that Brian built for me last year. I gave up on growing vegetables in there - it became too crowded too quickly, so I relocated the boxes along the fence.
Once they are more mature and fuller things should be very pretty. I'll plant some flowers at the base of the trees as well.
I started carving out the grass for my vegetable garden. What is supposed to be 'Italian Renaissance' is turning out to be 'English Heraldic'.
I redid the stone pathway leading to the lower part of the side yard. I'll be planting some elfin thyme between the stones so it will look something along these lines:
I don't believe in lawns that look like golf greens. I like a healthy diversity and my many toads would agree.
I have wild strawberries, clover, buttercups, tiny white and mauve flowers, what look like tiny pansies, and much more stuff growing amongst the blades of grass, but I'm at war with dandelions.
Like zombies, they keep living for quite a while after the've been plucked out and can still seed after they're long dead.
Tub full 'o zombies.
I planted a lilac which will flower abundantly soon. Yes it will.
Casualties: two of my six Junipers are in rough shape. These were the only two that had burlap protection for winter as opposed to mesh. But it was such a mild winter that I don't think the trees went totally dormant and these two lacked sunlight. One might bounce back, but I doubt if the other will.
Another casualty was my magnolia. All the blooms froze after that warm spell we had. Death of the blooms, but not of the tree, thank goodness. Below are shots taken of my magnolia in springs past.
So here we are... spring 2012.
Our fourth anniversary as owners and custodians of the Dusty Victorian.
Note my Chaz-Bear in the doorway, the ever-vigilant guardsman of the Dusty Victorian.
