First, I apologize to anyone that is suffering with a hard winter. Especially now, like in D.C.. (two periods?)
And if you like the real winter you are having, that is not suffering.
I spent several hours outside yesterday. No, not walking – gardening. Well de-gardening was probably a better description.
- Dug out some hyacinth bulbs that had somehow gotten underneath the new lawn, and were sprouting.
(Much of the lawn is growing, and we are going to have to get the mower rehabilitated soon.) - Pulled several volunteer “I am not sure what they really are” in the area adjacent to said lawn and fence where two planters will be placed shortly.
- Cut back the raspberries. It was easier this year because parts of the “fence” I have around the bushes had been disembled by our neighbor when he was fixing his gutters. (There is <5′ between the raspberries and his house, and ladders demand a bit more space.)
- Put the “fence” back together with a few new bits. The “fence” consists of about 10 plastic 1/2″ diameter fence posts stuck in the ground, and 2 levels of bamboo pieces held on to the posts and each other with zip ties (wire ties).
- Pulled, cut, dug out blackberry (invasive) vines wherever seen against the two houses.
- Cut off branches from some large tree-like bush pieces Ashlan had cut down last summer.
- Pruned a rhododendron to within a foot of its life. Don’t know if it will come back, but it was terribly leggy and just did not work in that form.
- Cut down parts of a “bush” that has overstayed its welcome and is 1) blocking the route from the front yard to the raspberries, brushing against our neighbor’s house. I lopped off 3 or 4 largish trunks, and decided I needed the saw to get the others.
- Cut up the parts of the overgrown bush.
- Washed the tools off.
- Washed my shoes off.
The end result – 1 96 gallon yard waste container full. 1 32 gallon yard garbage can full – to wait for next week’s pickup.
One really tired person. Who also noticed a few weeds in the new lawn (yikes!), and several other projects that need to be done.
And this morning I found my bend over hamstrings, lower back and various arm muscles are rather sore this morning.
But the work was needed and, most importantly, the raspberries should be ready for next year.
It was in the mid-50’s and sunny for most of the time. I was in a sweatshirt.
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