Kansas Spring

Wow, what weather we are having!  Dewdrop and I have made the most of it by doing LOTS of yard work while the sun is shining.  These delightful days are unpredictable this time of year, so when one comes along, I make the most of it, knowing that it could be a fluke and I won't have a chance to work outside again any time soon.

But, they just keep on a coming. One beautiful  day after another, with just enough rainy ones in between to make everything grow and turn green.

I just hope they keep on a comin.  I could use this kind of weather for Birdsong at the end of April! I hope the prettiness continues. (Birdsong is full now, thanks!)

So far, just about every spring blooming tree and shrub has prematurely burst into glorious buds all at the same time.  Its one of those breath taking Spring times when everywhere you look, there are blasts of pastel color.  As much as  I love it, I think I'd still prefer the step by step color, where a few bushes start blooming, then more open up a few at a time.  Its a head on collision of color this year.

I do love seeing  it, but I worry that this way, its all going to be played out early and done by the end of April when my guests arrive!

Its tempting to plant too much too soon, and I've tried to stop myself from getting too carried away. Its entirely possible that we could get a late snow or at least a hard frost yet.

So, I've planted only things that would hold up if the warmth fades.  Lots of pansies and snapdragons so far.  Plus, I've been cleaning and clearing. Every year when I start my Spring yard work, I'm kicking myself and declaring that NEVER again will I wimp out on clearing all the fall leaves in Autumn.  Because every year, I spend a few hours blowing leaves mulitple times in October and September, but we have so many trees, it barely makes a dent in them.

At first, I'm enjoying being outside and in the crisp fall air. 

Then, my arm starts to get tired. 

Then, the leaf piles seem bigger and bigger.

That is when I start to day dream about moving away to a condo on a beach somewhere. With no elm trees. No walnut trees. No whipping Kansas wind blowing the leaves back in my face as fast as my leaf blower shoos them away.

Then, the resentment begins to build and I start to get ill tempered.

So I quit, thinking I'll get back to them "later".

And usually I  end up leaving quite a few of  them till Spring.

And every Winter, they pile up, all soggy, wet, and heavy, half decomposed and rotting, waiting for me to brave them in the Springtime.

One phrase I've always preached to my kids is this- "Ignoring your problems only makes them bigger and worse. Fix them while they are still small and easier to deal with"  But do I listen to my own advice when it comes to leaves?

Never.

But Spring always comes, and I finally have no choice, I have to face the leaves. I'd like to think that our flower beds are happier with all of the decayed vegetation overwintering in them.  And I try to leave as much of it as possible where it lays and just top it with mulch. I've got 20 bags to start with.

The rest of the leaves, I blow into the woods. It always seems like a lot of work, but at least I don't have to bag and haul them.  We like it natural around here.

And having a helper out in the yard with me makes the work go faster.