Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

May

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It’s May. Finally.

We had some light frost last night, but we’re in the clear from here on in. It’s another lovely sunny day – tomorrow will bring rain – so I’m going to take advantage of it and do some potting. I need to see some flowers on my porch!

I managed to clean out the remaining garden beds yesterday, so that’s done. Such a relief to have completed that task – there’s much more to do around here, of course, including another round of mowing. This time, it will be all of the property, including the back forty. But we’ll do that in stages this week.

Betsy, I’m going to take your advice and wait and see if the Annabelle hydrangea comes back. I so hope it does. That section of the garden, which is the area on the far side of the porch, has the hydrangea, a big, overgrown spirea, and a rose bush that has been driving me crazy for years. The spirea has started leafing out, but there’s a whole section of it that’s damaged from the same snowfall that damaged the hydrangea. If I was Monty Don, I’d probably take it all out and start again, but I’m on a budget and I can’t quite give up on things at this point, even though it doesn’t look very attractive over there.

Hostas are coming out of the ground, as are day lilies, peonies, Solomon’s Seal, sedum, and clematis. The lilacs are in bud. I’ll take a picture of them today.

So today will be the day that I try out my little potting area in the shed. I’m anxious to see how it goes – will it be easier than working on the porch? Or just different? I’ll let you know.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Wind and Blooms

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Yesterday, eager to get outside and get some work done, I ventured out – tools in hand – after running an errand. But the wind CAME BACK (for the 3rd day in a row.) So there wasn’t much I could do but snip a few stalks left over from last year and prune a lot of the brambles, which resulted in several encounters with thorns.

After cleaning up (and giving up,) I came in the house and cleaned all my tiny wounds, took a shower, put a topical antibiotic on two of the nastier wounds, and stayed in the rest of the day. The wind is hard on my allergies so I end up feeling very, very tired and stuffed up – even though I was wearing sunglasses and a mask.

We have one more night of lows in the thirties and then I think we’ll have turned a corner.

I took these photos with very strong winds whipping the branches back and forth. I wanted to show you my favorite crabapple blossoms. They’re on a tree down by the road.

I love the deep rose and pale pinks.

Of course, I had to hack my way through brambles to get these pictures.

We visited our local nursery and purchased some plants and potting soil, but I had to stash them in the living room because of the winds. They’ll stay inside until tomorrow and then I’ll start potting. Today, I’m going to clear out more of the beds. So far, it looks relatively wind-free out there. I’m on a very strict budget this year so I’m cutting back on the amount of flowers I buy. I’ll try to make it look lush around here with less.

I think my big Annabelle hydrangea has died. At least, the bulk of it. Last year, we had a big freeze/snow event that really did a number on it. It did bloom, but not nearly as much as it usually does. I’m waiting to see if it’s just late in developing leaves, but a couple of offshoots of the main plant are already leafing out, as is the limelight hydrangea. So I may have to get in there and dig it up. Makes me very sad.

Okay. I finished the Michael Connelly yesterday and started the new Susan Hill – but it’s taking me a while to adjust to her very different style, most likely because my attention is scattered.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Wren, Books, and Gardens

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The adventures of Wren:

I’m not sure how happy Bertie is about this…

Exploring the property.

Well, Friday is here, and hopefully, we’ll have less wind. It was non-stop for two days, driving me crazy. I have so much to do outside! Don tells me it’s supposed to be sunny for the next three days, with gradually warming temperatures.

Don and I went for a spontaneous drive yesterday. A simple one, really, just a drive around our town. But it made a huge difference in my attitude. He was right – getting out was a good idea. Then we came back and my better half made an incredible burrito. Later, we finished the apple pie.

A good day.

I’m a bit more than halfway through The Dark Hours, by Michael Connelly. Excellent, as always. While on our little drive, we stopped at the library and I picked up the other books that were waiting for me: A Change of Circumstance  by Susan Hill, and Something to Hide  by Elizabeth George. George’s books are extremely long so I’ll probably read that one last, as all of these books have due dates. I’ll probably read the Susan Hill next, then the Horowitz, and then…maybe I’ll get to the George.

Don is getting ready to start in on his photography gig again, which grounded to a halt during the pandemic. He’ll be working the Farmer’s Market again this year, but that doesn’t start up until June. In the meantime, he has to reacquaint himself with the Crown Graphic, so I suspect I will be in some test photos.

And that’s it for today. Fingers crossed that I can get outside and do some more garden bed clearing.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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