Our weather has still been mostly cool, cloudy and rainy, but there have been a few bright sunny days. I took one of them to clean out the weeds around the perennials I have inside and outside the catio.

It’s just small green things for the most part, but what you see there, are Lupin (both the old ones I brought from the townhouse and the new ones I bought last summer); Oriental poppies (I’m very happy about this, I thought I’d lost them and my seeds didn’t take); Liatris (purple and white); Chrysanthemum (I did lose a couple of the new ones I planted last year, but at least three came back); Tickseed; Coneflower; and Black-Eyed Susans. Not pictured I also have Bellflower, Sedum, and Speedwell coming back as well

With the majority of the weeds cleared away, these small green things can really soak up the sun and become big green things in no time.

I still have to clean out the weeds on the fence garden but I should be able to that this weekend.

Elsewhere…

The bulb box is blooming nicely. The tulips in there are just getting buds, but I expect to see full blooms next week if the weather stays nice. I’m really enjoying my daffodils.

And while the tulips in the bulb box may be slow, I got some surprise tulips elsewhere in the yard that are already blooming.

These ones are along the fence by the maple tree on the left side of the house.

One of the plans this year is to take down that fence, which was kindly, but hastily put up by our neighbour to keep people from easily trespassing on the property while the house was empty.

We are going to replace the fence, but we will put it up in front of the maple, which will give us another “room” to the backyard – and one with shade in the summer. But in the spring, it will also be the perfect place for a wonderful “woodland garden” with snow drops and hellebore, and lily-of-the-valley! Of course, that will be dealt with later in the season.

And last… prep has begun on the landscaping out front!

Ok, admittedly, it doesn’t look like much. Before we even knew of Alvinston, the house hard large cedar hedges in the front yard. At some point (probably not long before it was put up for sale), they were cut down. Only stumps remained. I’ve managed to get rid of the majority of stumps and the ones that are left, I can work around. This area is all going to become a garden ,but its just chock-a-block full of weeds. So… I took some heavy contractor grade trash bags, cut them open, and staked them down. Now, I just have to let the sun heat them up. That and the lack of light should kill 99% of the weeds beneath them. Then I can get out there, even out and amend the soil, lay down some landscaping fabric, and create the perfect canvas for a beautiful perennial garden.

That’s the theory anyway. Here’s hoping it works!