When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest. The only thing that could spoil a day was people and if you could keep from making engagements, each day had no limits. People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself. — Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast
If ever there was the quintessential quote for my spring… this is it! I really focused on savoring every spring day and, for the most part, those days were delightful… rain or shine!
Most notably… it was a very wet spring. The Pittsburgh area got over 15 inches of rain… so much rain. (I think the south hills of Pittsburgh had a bit more rain that 15 inches, but I will go with the “official totals”) We were at a precipitation deficit and all that rain was very much needed! (and my lush, green, growing way to fast lawn agrees!)
Things that really worked this spring… the daffodils! The Colossal Daffs that I planted two years ago really put on a show this year! The 8 bulbs that overwintered again put out over 20 flowers! The new bulbs I planted last fall also liked the spot I chose for them… their sunny faces brightened up a bland corner of my garden! However…. the daffodil bulbs that I planted for naturalizing two years ago were an entire bust without a single bloom at all. (but a huge thanks to Carole for sharing the image of her braided daffodil greens and while I did not manage to braid them, I did twist the greens up and around themselves as I wait for the foliage to send back all their goodness to the bulbs!)
Waiting for those greens to all turn yellow…
The alliums also had a banner year! They must love long, wet, cold springs… because they bloomed forever!
I noted the first dandelion bloomed in my yard on March 28, just in time to welcome spring! I love those first dandelion blooms nestled in the grass… the stem not shooting up until the flower had changed to seeds.
The birds have been magnificent this spring! A pair of nesting Carolina Wren’s have taken up residence in a birdhouse that has never been of interest to any bird! And last year, I put out an Oriole feeder but never got a single Oriole visitor to it… however, persistence pays off because this spring…The Oriole’s Arrived! Yes, we have one pair that must be nesting nearby. I have yet to spot their nest on my walks with Frankie but I see them regularly at the feeder. They are a delight to my eyes and ears!
Just under the wire… mulch arrived on the last full day of spring (just in time for the massive Heat-a-thon!)
Now we begin with the “limiters of happiness” portion of my post… the people (and animals!!) Last year a neighbor sprayed something that got on our forsythia and rose bushes. One forsythia bush died and the two others have significant damage so there were few blooms this year. The roses also have succumbed to whatever she sprayed. This neighbor is an absolute pain in my neck and if she decided to move, I’d help her pack. Fortunately, she is gone most of the time… however, when she is home… she is always spraying some crap on something. This area needs an entire reworking (and possibly a solid fence if I could get the township to agree!)
I have two other neighbors that are likely the reason the reason that Templeton the Rat has taken up residence. Yes, I have one solitary rat that I see on the regular. Sigh. One neighbor has a compost bin that is poorly managed… I see Templeton there all the time. (And I smell the compost bin as well as it is right outside the kitchen door.) However, he must have made his home in a very neatly stacked cord of wood in another neighbors yard. The rat runs back and forth across my open, tree-free back yard hoping for a few untidy birds dropping seeds in my yard while he scavenges my neighbors compost bin. I keep hoping that all this running back and forth in the open will shorten Templeton’s life… at least I live in hope. He is the reason I stopped putting out suet and moved bird feeders and invested in squirrel baffles.
Well, Rocky Raccoon might have also played a role in those decisions as well. Yes, one night a raccoon got very angry there was no seed in our Bird Buddy and in the battle between the raccoon and the 3-d printed Bird Buddy… Rocky won. Steve has it MacGyvered together, but its days are numbered.
The wildlife decimated my tulips and crocus. I probably should just dig up the bulbs and plant something else.
The last thing that has been a bust was my spring journaling in Leaf, Cloud, Crow… I have not kept up with my weekly posts there, preferring to “keep it simple” and incorporating my observations in my daily journal.
Now, for a quick reminder… OLW people! We will be sharing our June Update next Monday (yes, most appropriately the last day of June!) The link up will be up early on the 30th and will remain open for the week! I am excited to see how all of you did this month!
See you all back here on Wednesday!
I love how successful you were with your colossal daffs and that your backyard is a haven for so many birds. But I shudder at the thought of your awful neighbors and a rat! Even naming him Templeton doesn’t help much. I wonder if there are zoning regulations around compost in your area? My neighbor thought composting basically meant throwing his garbage in a pile at the bottom of his lot; it wasn’t contained in any way, smelled awful and the skunks and feral cats fought over it every night. We do have pretty specific regulations to prevent Templeton and other visitors so the notice from the borough that he had to clean it up or face a $50 fine every day until it was cleaned up took care of the problem. Like Mr. Hemingway says; people were always the limiters of happiness.
we have a resident raccoon that eats all the bird seed out of our winter feeder so in the summer I switch to thistle – I’ve seen the raccoon check it out and turn away (I feel like I’m winning, lol).
Good luck with the unmanaged compost, that is a shame that a neighbor is neglecting it.
A great summary of spring, it’s nice to look back as the seasons change. I hope your single rat stays a single rat because if he finds a friend you could wind up with a much bigger problem!
I ditto what Bonny said . . . check with your local gov’t office about the compost! That said, if we garden to attract/protect critters, we have to put up with having them in our gardens. Which means . . . I have given up on tulips and crocus. And having nice front garden borders (that can’t be fenced). And having a Bird Buddy. (Also . . . as beautiful as Margaret Renkl’s Leaf, Cloud, Crow journal IS . . . it is NOT practical for any kind of journaling, and especially not for garden journaling. So good for you for going your own way!!!)
PS Your mulch looks GREAT.
I’m sorry the neighbors are spoiling some of your garden enjoyment. We had our own Templeton several weeks ago, but luckily something got him because I saw him dead on our neighbor’s lawn. We have some hawks circling in our area from time — I’d love it if they’d take care of the rats for us!
Ugh. People who don’t know what or how-to compost… shouldn’t have compost bins/piles! (I wouldn’t have thought of it, but I also recommend contacting local government, maybe even health dept). They’re probably putting the wrong kind of “waste” in there if they’re attracting rats. SHUDDER!!!
Who are OWL people?
Laura Kate
One Little Word. There are a group of us who spend the year contemplating a word and our lives. I’ve been part of the group for a number of years.
Hooray for the orioles and if they are nesting nearby that is spectacular. Ugh to the rat though. Raccoons frequent the older neighborhoods in Lincoln but to date we haven’t had them here. I also gave up on tulips. The squirrels have eaten any I every planted. I wonder about putting them in tall pots but that might be a little strange. I’m glad the mulch finally arrived. Take care in this heat.