english: Signs of spring Yesterday the wind had finally died-down and the sun was shining...with very few clouds--it was our first (real)spring day. The birdies were singing, the air smelled springy and there were also seeable-touchable signs. I sometimes had to get down close and remove some of the protective debris to see it, but there are definite signs. I shall get to these little 'signs' in a moment but first let me show you a piece of the flower garden: Isn't it shocking--it looks like an abandoned wasteland, doesn't it? Well, even this messy-looking view has its redeeming aspects--take the green that you see haphazardly growing all over the place. That is the Forget-me-nots that I let run wild every spring. Only after they have bloomed-out do I begin serious plot cleaning. And that twig right in the middle, that is the reason that I took the foto in the first place--it is a Hydrangea bud. Unfortunately, the little camera focused beyond that. :-? However, as one of out volks-filosofen, or "popular 'philosophers'" says, "Every disadvantage has an advantage". The advantage was that I could show other things. So, here is a closer look at that Hydrangea bud. This little group of Forest Hyacinth is coming up near the plum tree, just off the main patio. Over in front of the greenhouse, there are narcissis above ground, both sides of the door. Over in that corner of the old veggie garden is the little blueberry patch and they are showing tightly closed buds too! Moving back over to the flower garden, I knelt down and raked aside the protective mulch that I placed on top of those gratis bulbs that I got from the spud-dude. These are Allium, I believe. Over near the bird feeding area, the orange Daylilies are very definitely present and accounted for. Well, I had to repair one of the arches a couple of days prior to this visit-- You see the strong winds had blown-over one of the Clematis arches and I had a very comical time trying to get that heavy thing again erect and stabilized to poles that I had to sink into the ground near the vines/crumpled arch. I have to say that I shall never again go the cheap route when buying arches--it just isn't worth it. Those flimsy little arches quickly became rusted at the joints and they are so thin that the metal can not hold the weight properly....and if there is strong wind present, well then WILL go horizontal. I have had this problem every year with one or the other of these types of arches. OOPS--I am waffling now. Thinking back....yes, I say "comical" now, but I can guarantee you that the words uttered that day were far from pleasant, I was furious. Working downwind and trying to push the bent and horizontal arch back upright (into the wind) was what we call a helskarwei-- a difficult task, to put it nicely. I would get that frail arch with it's great huge ball of clematis vines on it pushed right up to the pole supports and begin to try and get a length of twine wrapped around both pole and arch leg twice (with one hand). The wind would gust, and the heavy arch would slip from my grasp and hit me in the head and the dry vines would entwine in my hair and drop little bits of broken tendrils and bark down the back and front of my shirt. I lost my balance twice and fell backwards onto the chicken wire fence and crushing that with my weight (200 lb, 6'3" frame) like an accordion. As I fell further onto a prepared planting bed, I landed with an "UMMPHF"! I think that the most disheartening was when I saw the twine that I had worked so hard with one hand to wrap around arch and pole simply untwine as the weight of the arch fell back upon me. I viewed this as I fell, and another few toimes after that. I would lie there with my butt in the soft, rain-soaked mud of a plot and spew forth curses that would make the witches in MacBeth cringe and want to juump into that cauldron along with the frogs, newts and wool of a bat just to escape me--forget the nicety of rhyming "double double, toil and trouble....". I concentrated upon the 'fire' bit, I guess that you would say. I must have looked a sight--muddy trousers, sticks in my hair--a purplish-red face, bugging eyes...sitting on the soggy ground with butt and heels in the soil...and my hands wrist deep in the mud. Oh, the frustration of it all! Well then, I really went off on a tangent didn't I. I guess that I'm still a bit irritated. Not so irritated that I can't see the comedy in it now, though. Gosh, I think that if I had seen it as a skit on the telly, I might have injured myself laughing. Anyway...after communing with my feeding station regulars, I headed off home and what was waiting for me on the floor inside the front door?--a "sorry we missed you" note from the postman. A packet had arrived during my absence. At first my heart sank, but then I saw that it had been left at the neighbour's. I retrieved with an abundance of "thank you's" and saw immediately that it was from the tater-dude. Oh yes! This would be the planting spuds for the coming season. I opened the box and there they were: Not only were the spuds there...but there were all the ones that I ordered--no replacements. I was well chuffed! I have: Charlotte Linzer Delicatess International Kidney Kerkauer Kipfler/Kerkovské Rohlicky (1941) These little gems are already beginning to chit in the netted bags. The signs of spring here have not been spectacular, but you must agree that signs is signs-- and I've got signs: from the Hydrangeas to the Hyacinths to the spuds waiting at home--signs of spring.
teehee I'm so envious of your signs of spring Sjoerd! You've just got me thinking about my veggie garden - but it is still under a thick blanket of snow. I added a generous amount of well composted manure to my garden last year so I think I may try potatoes again. this year.
Hehe!!!! Haw!!haw!! the arches ...... It is always a wonderful sight to see the ground coming back to life ya!!
Ah, to be a mouse in the corner with camera in hand what a photo that would have been of you sitting in the mud. All your green looks so beautiful and hopeful. There is very little still green or becoming green in my yard, even the evergreen plants are a bit more dark brown than green after the hard freezes we have had the last two weeks.
Good thing you can now look back at all that helskarwei tolling and have a chuckle. "Never scrimp on the foundations" I was once told. But I'm still a penny pincher. Good to see your taters have arrived - and all those little green possibilities are popping up everywhere at the lottie.
NETTY--Don't be envious...I'll bet you've got signs right under the snow waiting to be discovered. Good that you added the manure. The ground ought to be good and ready for those potatos now. Good luck with them...have you selected the types that you will grow? Glad you liked that arches story, KK--I was also very pleased to see the ground coming back to life. Oh dear, TONI-- I see that you have one of those wild sense of humours. hahaha. I sure hope that the weather warms up there a bit...real soon. Yes, 4-G, I don't stay miffed long. I go along with the not skrimping addage...its just that they were so ridiculously inexpensive back then. Never again though. I can't really describe how happy I am that those spuds showed-up. I've already got them in the ground (in my head).
LOL! i was going to ask if your ground was frozen...then i saw the ''in my head' part! great signs of spring and hope there sjoerd! we still have feet on the ground of the white stuff, so our signs are still sleeping. i can so identify with the fallen arches and trying to put them back up, no less, in the wind, with all the branches clinging to them! been there, done that, so many times! still do! i figure someday i'll get the knack of it!
I did not see any traces of snow, so that's a a good sign too. Enjoyed reading your update. We are having a period of milder weather but I'm not getting too excited just yet. The Robins and red-winged black birds are starting to appear they are suppose to be harbingers of Spring. I am waiting for my lenten roses to bloom they are late this year but I see buds.
Ah, that's a nice reminder that Spring really IS going to come back again this year! I had a laugh about the spuds being planted (in your head) too! We gardeners are a creative bunch, especially when solo repairs must be done! Good job on the arches -- you won that match! I can't believe your day lillies are that far up already!
Thanks BUNKIE--Yes, those darned arches are a real pain--every year or so one or more blow-over and it's a bit of a problem to get them back up, but I manage. Sorry that you have so much snow there. it'll melt one of these days and then your fun can begin. I am glad tat you enjoyed reading the posting, GAIL--It does sound like the spring is on its way there then. I wonder why your rose is late though--that's odd. DAISY--Yes, I guess that I am a bit over-anxious where those lovely-looking potatos are concerned. Thanks for a good word on the arches, its good to 'win', but it was at a cost. chuckle. I was surprized to see those daylilies too. As you may recall, they are the same ones as what you have. I would actually expect yours to be up before mine.
I know the feeling of frustration sometimes when you are trying to get something done and everything is working against you. I'm going to blog about that in a bit. We have a few signs of spring, mainly warmer weather after a couple of very cold days. I can't wait. I hope you get to plant your spuds soon. dooley
Thanks Dooley-- Yes, I hope so too. I still have quite a few from last season, but no matter, I an chomping at the bit to get the new ones in the ground--it will have to dry up quite a bit though. Looking foreward to your posting.
