Cut back some more ornamental grasses (I'm doing this in stages, I've got a lot of ornamental grasses) and chopped the cuttings to use as mulch in place. Pulled away the mulch and exposed the eyes of about half of the peonies.

Peered over at the old woodchuck burrow hole and then averted my eyes. Tomorrow I'll get closer and see if it's newly dug out or just the remnants of last year's burrow - haven't seen a woodchuck yet but that doesn't mean they're not around.

Beautiful day!

Claire

I had the holly tree trimmed, and there were still bits here and there, especially stuck in the camellia bushes below, so I picked them out, and also from among the crocuses and daffodils, then raked them together. I had already pulled last seasons dead black-eyed-susan vines from the trellises and cleaned the beds, where the hyacinths are coming up. I had also cut off the dead leaves and stalks from various perennials. I took out two of the three patio table and chair sets. I had a cousin come for dinner on Wednesday, when it hit 74 here, and we sat out late afternoon with a pre-dinner glass of wine and conversation. Today looks like it may be another good day for some cleanup. I've already put out a pot of Agapanthus and a potted, dormant Brugmasnia, both up against the house in shade for now.

Spent lots of time this past week in the garden :)

Cleaned up leaf litter to expose lots of bulb growth that we planted from last fall: muscari, daffodil, hyacinth, daylily, tulip, hellebore, fritillaria and something else I can't identify. Trimmed some ornamental grasses, turned over some leaves into the veggie garden and am soaking my sugar snap peas for planting tomorrow. I still need to trim my butterfly bushes and roses among many others. Veggie seeds have been started in the sunroom and I need to direct sow my brassicas, lettuces and asparagus crowns. So much to do!