Spring is wonderful with all the bulbs blooming and new growth on perennials, but looking at the deadheading to be done is depressing. Spring at Olivia White sometimes feels overwhelming. We don't do much deadheading in the fall, but it does protect our plants roots and provides some winter food for the birds. Oh well! Fast forward to Memorial Day when things will be looking great.
A large elm was removed from the back of the Faerie Garden. I can't believe how much mulch they left us from one trees limbs. The large pieces of the trunk are still in the canyon. We may be able to take one or two for decorative stumps. The tree was removed because each year it was dropping limbs in the garden and had become dangerous.
I spent Monday in the garden for a few hours. I deadhead a few plants until the rain, hail, snow began and then did some work indoors. The bird feeders were cleaned and I began cleaning the shelf in the garage. In between showers I cleaned the back porch and set it up for the Thursday workday.
On Thursday, we had a small crew but much was accomplished. Nancy and Bruce Palmer came and set up the birdhouse trellis and began to set up the Faerie Garden. As I mentioned earlier the large elm on the NE corner was taken down. It opens up the garden with more light. Nancy and Bruce brought a couple of logs up into the FG which they will place later and a group of carvers will stop by to pick up a few more. The rest will be remove by Joan Joyce.
Betty Marcus came and filled bird feeders, did some general cleaning, and began to rake the FG. Joe Harte assembled our new glider, got cement and sand out of my car into the garden for some projects, and began to get the rain barrels ready. Judith Chaddock helped us haul things around, and watered the indoor plants. I spent my time doing some deadheading, and filling some holes left by the ground squirrels.
In Zane's garden, we found a cat collar hanging on the trellis. It belonged to Max the cat we were always calling his owner about, because he was always crossing Switzer Canyon Drive. I guess he crossed one to many times, but his collar was left in the right place. We will wire it onto the trellis to provide company for Zane. I also added a Ben's Bell I bought in Tucson. I found it at the Book Sale in the local animal shelter booth. It is a nice addition to the garden.
On Saturday, Leslie Stone stopped by with her family and an Eagle Scout. It looks like we will have help with our trellises by the sheds, and the pathways from Switzer to the Rose Garden and on the corner. They may also help with other work in the garden. Whenever work needs to get done the "Project Faerie" seems to sense it.
Work for the week of 4/15-18:
Lots of deadheading - emphasis on the front of the house
Adding some rock to the front beds
Planting some potatoes/onions weather permitting
Raking pine needles and general cleaning in the FG
Earth Day - April 20, 9am-12pm
Raking, sweeping
Continue FG clean-up as needed and bringing out hardscape
Sanding the raised beds
Removing mulch from some of the FUTS trail beds
Watering as needed
Earth Day is everyday! anonymous
Hope to see you sometime this week!
Loni
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