Watered

 It snows, it melts, it. snows, it melts. 

The garden is joyous, with every bulb flower gearing up to bloom, but waiting.  Except the crocus and dwarf iris. The desert candles are still lurking beneath leaves. I peeked, then put the leaves back over them. 

The snow at Alta, the town and ski resort, is at 800"-  over 20 meters.  This is where our water comes from, so this is important. Doesn't cure the drought, but it sure don't hurt. There is more snow coming this week. 

Reading How To Read Water, and my brain is tingling with new connections. 

Had the bad dream again, no House, no Dylan. I was in an apartment building. Climbing up with two of the maintenance guys above the 4th floor into an unlit space via ladders. I even had to wear a hardhat. Only to find the laundry room with a dozen washers/dryers, all fluorescent bulbs in the ceiling. And a guy bringing his laundry basket down - telling me "Yeah, that's where the laundry room is."

Losing all this is the worst of dreams. 

Marching

 

March, eh?

Over 700" in the mountains this snow year. We're at 200% normal water up there. It won't cure the drought, but it will help.  Garden is happy, but it will be a late start for growing.  The various crocus/iris/tulip/allium don't mind at all. 

My hand surgeons are all at a conference, so I took the day off as well. I'm trying to be proactive about taking time off, and not let myself get exhausted like I did in February.  They give me PTO, I need to take it in a useful way. My colleague does, and is supportive of me doing the same. 

Lush

Yes, I am starting to recover my energy. The garden blooms. 

The inherited pink rose, still has aphids, but neem oil is keeping them from too much destruction this year. 

I believe this might be a toxic plant that has volunteered here.  Going to spend time time looking it up. 
 

Addendum: Yes This is Euphorbia myrsinites, and 

• It was listed as a noxious weed in Salt Lake County, Utah in 2007, and since has been illegal for sale within the county.[14] Salt Lake County landowners and land managers are legally responsible to contain, control, or eradicate the species on their property. The Utah Native Plant Society has also formally recommended it be listed as a Utah state noxious weed.

Micro

A dozen or so

Microgardens growing here

Crowded together. 

When asked what I grow, I begin listing, and the list is very long. Because this wasn't planned as a whole, landscaped, groomed, perfect space. I dug a hole, fed the soil, tried a plant. If it grew, it could stay. If it died, I would try another.  Over and over I dug, fed, planted, waited.  I tried to read the seed packages and plant requirements, but so often I was swept away by the image on the package or the ID tag in the pot. Sometimes, those grew well, often they became compost. 

I fought foxtail grasses, Morning Glory, English Ivy, Star of Bethlehem and assorted weeds whose name I never learned. Replaced them with Lemon Balm and catmint, and some other mint, but at least those do not have spiky seeds that get lodged in dog's paws. Nor does it grow up the bricks and destroy the mortar. Yes, it's also invasive, but it is green and Eleanor loves it.  Veronica covers the soil in winter and early spring, another volunteer, protecting the bare ground. I pull it up and compost it, just enough to let other life through after it is spent. It's welcome enough in its season. 

Lots of irises, tulips, alliums this year, color in spring. 

Life returning. 

Unpaving

Spring has some.  Rain next week. So, I had to get the pavers moved and the rain barrels up. I always get caught up and do too much, and ache after. But the greenness is calling out, and I must comply. 

The barrels are also finally connected with tubing, so both will fill, given enough rain. 
 

Potentia

They took our blood and

Spittle. Antibody search. 

Two more data points.
 

Lush

He's getting relaxed even when we walk by him. Why here? He refused to explain. He may become even more nerveless than Eleanor, in time.

The A/C gave out yesterday. Repairman came by fairly quickly, checked out the whole system, replaced the compressor, and recommended we start saving for a new system over the next five years. The bill was entirely reasonable, especially for a weekend when it looks like we will hit 100˚F today.

The garden is lush, a haven for birds and bees. The sunflowers are dominant, but the bergamot has pushed its way into a sizable patch. Thinking of putting in cilantro later this month, let it germinate now and establish itself in the fall. Jalapeños appearing on one plant. Mexico midget tomato plants volunteered again, so we will have some of those. Fennel is 4'high and spreading. Some areas where the mustard grew are dry, but not supporting weeds either. No visible pumpkins yet, but the vines are impressive.

Geranium

Rose, geranium,
Veronica and lentil.
Beauty small and sweet.

After

Didn't think to take a Before shot, but this is what is going to the city compost.




Pulled out some old reed garden fencing to cover the meter after this. One tall grass, one shorter. Mint already going nuts.



The other side will need attention later. The little spruce(?) is slowly establishing, drowned out by mint and various deep rooted weeds. The other red bush gets to stay another year. Getting the first one out was a job, and I'm hurting. Still, satisfying. Couldn't have done any of this last year. Much improved, mud better than dead bush.





Golden Celebration roses getting ready to bloom.

Digging

The bush close to the house has been dying for the last few years. Today, I dug it out. Yes, I am tired. Tomorrow we will plant a tall grass Erianthus ravennae if I can find it. Never really liked it, always a job to keep in trim. The red in the spring was nice, but never lasted, and it's been going yellow with dead bits. This year it was clearly suffering. The last one was from two years ago, and it was in much worse shape this spring. Dug out old irrigation tubing, I suspect its disintegration was part of what killed the bush. The one on the other side isn't doing well either. I'll probably tackle that one soon as well.










Cat in her garden.

Bearded

First bearded irises blooming.

They often don't eat together, Eleanor prefers her privacy. But sometimes.



On the table.


In a sunbeam.

Backwards

The annual Papering of the Elms.



Shredded sunflower stalks and sticks this morning. Not done the job but my back was done for the day.



Flowers both intentionally planted, and volunteers, all welcome. If it wants to grow behind the compost, who am I to object?



Raspberries thrive. This is possibly where I planted mini pumpkins, succulents slowly spreading. Fennel and chives. Clover and Fescue crowding out weeds between pavers.



Mustard and allium blooming, bearded irises on deck. Bergamot spreading. Poppies have more buds than I can count. Our little juniper dwarfed by soft seeded grasses, lemon balm, lamb's ear.