Monday, March 12, 2007

Spring Sunday

I know, Sunday was yesterday, but I was so busy basking in the warm sun that I didn't take the time to write.

Actually, what I really did was putter. Husband let me sleep in late, which because of the time change, was 'til 9:00. 9:00! Have I done that since I was 24? I don't think I have. After a leisurely cup of tea on the screened porch because it was that warm, I realized that we were probably ready for porch living again. Some of you out there are still dealing with some deep ass snow, but here in NC temps have been in the mid-60's. Tomorrow it's getting up to 78 degrees! Ok, ok, I'll stop now, but I assure you it's not gloating, but rather extreme glee making me carry on so much.

Back to the porch. I spent a couple of hours moving houseplants from their winter residence on every available bookshelf and side table inside to every available bookshelf and side table on the screened porch. I misted their leaves to get the dust off and gave them all a nice dose of some liquid fertilizer. I transplanted a few into larger pots, including my favorite, a tree-like jade plant that I've been nurturing since it was 6" tall in a 4"-nursery pot. It's well over a foot tall now, and half again as wide and I'm very, very fond of it. The porch is so inviting and green now that I'm dying to have a party, even with the yard beyond still nothing but a stretch of clay clods bordered by some planted beds.

Husband worked hard himself this weekend on getting the backyard much closer to done-ness. The French drains are all filled in and the yard is nearly level after a couple hours spent passing a tiller over the enormous piles of clay left over. The vegetable beds are marked off, and I still have to turn them over before Husband tills those up, too. They're nothing like our suburban homesteading neighbors' beds in size and intention, mind you, but we'll still grow cherry tomatoes for the girls to snack on as they play outside, plus regular-sized ones, too, and probably cucumbers, herbs, melons, beans, and exactly ONE plenty-prolific squash or zucchini. Tomorrow I may go ahead and plant the dahlia tubers I have, though maybe I should wait til it's "officially" warm enough.

But nah, I don't think I can wait.

3 comments:

Angel said...

dahlias are some of my favorite flowers. I had some Dinner Plate Dahlias that were so beautiful..I love peonies too.

I'm jealous. Although it WAS 71 here today! Woohoo!! I sat on my porch and dreamed about my garden.

Anonymous said...

Yep, still snow here. Only daydreaming of gardening.

Lauren D. McKinney said...

There is nothing quite as wonderful as a Southern porch.