Alliteration makes me smile, hence today’s blog post title. Greetings from the land of mulch! And I mean lots of mulch. Yesterday, this crazy, extreme spring gave us a sunny day in the 80’s. I knew what I had to do. It was mulch time.
Don usually helps me with mulching but he had to go into Manhattan at the last minute. So it was just me and 8 bags of mulch. Since I’m leaving Sunday and big thunderstorms are forecast today and tomorrow, I had to grab my chance. I mulched. I planted. I mowed the dogs’ corral.
And I can barely move today. My arms are sore from carting bags of mulch around. My back is sore from bending over. I got a little sunburn. But, gosh darn it, except for a little bed on the side of the house and the beds in front of the shed, all is mulched. I’m trying to keep potential weeds at bay but I’m sure that upon my return in June this will all be overgrown. Don is afraid to pull anything that might be a real plant and not a weed. I’ve given him permission to yank the Jacob’s Ladder when it gets too pushy, otherwise it will take over the garden bed.
I took a walk around the property – everything is just starting to bud.
The big sugar maple will probably leaf out right after I leave. I’m crossing my fingers…maybe it will happen sooner.
My little lilac – will it open before Sunday?
Tiny, perfect buds on the Wiegela bush. Please open before Sunday…
By the way, I have to get up at 4 am on Sunday to catch a 6 am flight. I had two choices: arrive in the morning or late at night. Since I will be using a rental car and I have no idea how to get around in Wisconsin, I thought the wise choice would be driving in daylight. So I can see where I’m going. And find the condo where I will be staying.
And, unbelievably, Sonja (who sent me some Roseville pottery a while back) sent me another piece! I am amazed at her generosity. How did I get so lucky?
This is the Zephyr Lily pattern. I have a shallow dish in the same pattern – it might have been the first piece that I acquired. Isn’t it lovely? And those little rosettes? The vase was full of them.
Right now they are in this unattractive zip-lock bag but they will soon be headed up to my studio. Thank you, Sonja. You are a truly generous person and I am deeply grateful for these gifts.
I’m going to do a bit more work around here today, if the rain holds off. Carefully. Gingerly. Don’t want to be hobbled by a bad back when I get to Wisconsin.
Claudia, I left this huge long comment and was hoping to get all caught up on the last few posts and blogger decided to erase it all!!! I shall have to rewrite it all, darn blogger! Have a safe and happy trip!!! Love the vase, what a sweet friend to pass along her wonderful collection to you!
Hugs,
Margaret B
Beautiful hard work will pay off handsomely for your garden. You need some TLC today. Hugs to you or sharing. Anne
Don’t feel alone…I have a lot of mulching to do too:) Not fun as you are doing it, but looks so good after!!!
Blessings,
Linda
I can identify with the soreness from working in your yard. It looks beautiful, though! I am inspired each time I see little buds open and bloom. Enjoy your time in Wisconsin. That vase and little ribbon rosettes are so pretty. Lucky you!
You are doing what I need to be doing, Claudia, but it’s already hot here. I dont’ do well in heat. I melt. ;-)
Your yard is so pretty, and I hope that some of the things bloom before you go. I bet you get to see Wisconsin blooming because isn’t it colder there than in New York? Maybe you will catch the first of spring there. I hope you do, and I hope your time there will be especially productive and fun.
Hugs across the miles…
XO,
Sheila :-)
P.S. Will you be watching the wedding on Friday? I thought of you the entire time my English guests were here. You would have loved their accents! I miss them!
so pretty! and I’m well aware of over doing it in the garden…ouch!!!
Have a safe trip and when you come back, your hubby will have everything in it’s place~
tootles,
bunny
You are blessed, charming, but foolish to do all that in one day, honey. ;-) But then I’ve done the same thing KNOWING what I’d have to suffer through because it just needed to be done.
My parents went to Wisconsin once and said they are the nicest people they’d ever met. Good luck there.
xoxo,
Connie
When you get back in June you will so glad you did all that work yesterday – but that was way too much for one day, I can not imagine how you did it all and can still move! Daylight traveling in new places, good idea. Safe journey.
– Joy
Your pictures are just gorgeous. We need to get some mulch too. I wish our grass was as pretty as yours!
Hooray for the Sun!! I hope the last few days at home are warm and wonderful. Love and miss you,
Mere
I’m so jealous! I need to mulch and get my plants in the ground, but my back went out two days ago. First time EVER. Not fun. It’s the pits to be missing work, but unable to do anything productive around the house/yard. On the bright side, I can read to my heart’s content!
Please be careful of your back. I can understand the drive to get everything done though.
Hugs,
Jill
PS: Hope your blooms open in time for you to see them!
Claudia- You have done GREAT I can read–working so much mulch to your beds…how satisfied you surely are, dear- and the garten with all the buds must look gorgeus now- I so hope for you, you will be able to see some of them open up, before you leave.
The gift from Sonya look so beautiful, what a sweet person.
xox-Dorthe
We seriously need to get mulching around here. ROSEVILLE! What a nice friend to have indeed.
Ahhh, wonderful mulch! It sure can make things look groomed. Love all that you did. After a day working so hard as you did, I kinda like the little pain from yard work. It means you worked hard and it’s a good thing! :)
Have a safe trip and keep us updated often. LOVE the vase!
Love,
Maryjane
Owie.. sorry you are so sore.
I’d take the earlier flight too… hope you have a bit of fun while there.
I have a zephyr lily vase in blue… it’s my favorite Roseville pattern.. you are one lucky girl to have her send that to you!
DI
Have a very safe and productive trip.
:D
xx
z
I’m glad you got to enjoy your gardens before leaving again this spring. Take care.
Best Wishes for your trip Claudia and please do not pull your back out! Your garden and yard look wonderful and when you return you will have so much loveliness to look at. Safe trip. Ann
So glad you were able to get the mulching in before you left. You and the plants will be happy while you’re gone (: I have that same piece of Roseville, and an interesting tray shaped like a leaf or petal. Safe journey!
wow Claudia- I am so jealous! My yard is still brown- just tiny hints that there will be green again. In fact- yesterday and this morning it snowed. Nothing that stuck- but it’s still snow when I wish for warm rain or sun. I hope you have safe travels- your garden is looking so wonderful. If you miss the opening of the buds maybe your sweet hubby will go out and take pictures to send you?
MY OH MY….YOUR TRIP IS SO CLOSE…..HOPE ALL GOES WELL IN WISCONSIN…..TAKE IT EASY ON YOUR BACK….
YOU DON’T NEED PAIN IN YOUR BACK TRAVELING. BRING ICY HOT JUST IN CASE, AND PLENTY OF IBPROFIN. :)
RIZZI