First Day of Spring

It's 60º outside with a strong March wind, but it's time for a walk around the house.

It's hard to believe it looked like this just three days ago.  5 inches of snow!  May look like that again next week if forecast is correct.

Stepping out on the back porch my lettuce and bok choy seedlings are getting their first exposure to the outside.  I never did get the spinach to germinate.  I hope I have better luck when I sow it directly.

Looking left towards the south east and the fire pit on the deck.

Looking straight ahead toward the south.  No sign of new leaves.

Looking west toward the perennial garden.

There is some spring color there.  These crocuses managed to survive being buried by the snow on Monday.

Daffodils nearest the house are the farthest along.

Looking back towards the house, it all looks pretty desolate still.

On the north side of the house

the ground is full of these holes.

What animal is doing the digging?  Fox?  Raccoon? Skunk?  And what is it after?

Outside the front door this garden will be getting a makeover starting tomorrow hopefully

with the replacement of the walkway I did myself many years ago.  Later a nursery will replace the lavender with another hardier variety, remove the Russian sage in favor of pink muhley grass and Japanese beauty berry.  The butterfly bushes and hydrangeas (on the right above) to the left (below) will remain.

The vegetable garden is showing little life.  The only thing planted is garlic and its just showing green shoots.

As I type this the frogs are just now warming up their croaks.  The goldfish are enjoying the warm sun.

This pond garden bed will be redone this year.  I'll move the various plants I put in there attempting to make a rock garden on the hillside down from the screen porch.  The liriope at the top edge and the water irises along the pond will be allowed to spread and meet up.

Back to the back door.  Almost time for the seedlings to return inside after their first exposure.

It's to be 70º on Saturday but snow in the forecast for Tuesday.