Longer Days

It’s hard to believe that we are already well into February.  I did remember to switch garden flags.

I have to say that I am noticing the longer days.  And the sunset is moving back to the north.

I am thrilled with more daylight.  Happy Valentine’s Day!

Getting Winter Ready

I already had to get the heaters out for my water tubs last weekend when we were really cold. Obviously, I’ve unplugged them again since the weather on Friday was at a record high.  It’s just crazy up and down temperatures.

I took advantage of Saturday’s nice weather.

But, it sounds like we’re past the really warm stuff–much more seasonal now.  So I decided to take advantage of the last of the warm weather to try and finish some of my winter prep work. I had to put tarps on a couple of windows in the barn.

one of the west windows

Then I went to the garden.  It was even nice enough to drive the Ranger up there.

on the Ranger with Sky watching by the gate

It’s still a mess from being overgrown with the record wet July we had, but I had to get the tomato cages out of there.

my garden

So I tried to find them all.  I can’t imagine I didn’t forget some, but I have most of them.

While I was there, I tried bringing home a few things from the shed.  My poor nephew still has a lot of my stuff in his shed.

tools

That’s on my agenda, but somehow I don’t seem to get that done.

I wonder if I can get my sign off of there…

Anyhow, I did get some stuff done.

my rooster weather vane in the herb garden

I ended the day be finally reclaiming my rooster weather vane and getting it out of the herb garden.

Sky coming to help; my messy herb garden

I swear, if I get nothing else done next year, I need to do something better with the herb garden.

Patio Garden Progress

Sunday we were still under a heat advisory, so I used that as an excuse to run to town and get a new salt/mineral block for the goats.  Of course, I had to look through the garden things.  I really wanted to get a couple more of the livingstone daisies I added to the annual planter.

They are the pretty little ground cover plants.

Unfortunately, they didn’t have any, but I found a couple of other cute things to fill in the gaps.

The two mushrooms and the little welcome stone.

I also got my first hanging pot decoration.  It probably won’t be the last.

A little mantis on the bird of paradise pot.

Monday, we finally had a break in the heat.  It was still really hot, but we were out of a heat advisory, and the rains were coming by afternoon, so if I wanted to get any work done, it had to be Monday.  I decided to start with the patio garden in front of the well house.  I had to get that soil broke up and leveled out before I could do anything else.

I started with a spade, but it was really hard.

I was going to start by moving the half concrete blocks from the rock garden.

The blocks in the back won’t be needed once the lattice is put on.

But I didn’t want to disturb my guest in the toad pool.  So I waited for him to finish his soak.

I adore all the little toads out there under the deck!

I tried starting the tiller, but I could not keep it running.

The tiller-do you see my little friend?

little squirrel

Because of the time constraint, I decided to go old school.

That dirt was hard packed.

It was probably better that I didn’t use the one with a motor anyhow because I did bring up a couple of rocks and other things.  It was kind of a pain, but with the cultivator, spade, garden claw and rake, I got it to where I stopped.  I’ll let it get rained on to settle it, and then I can finish evening it out with potting soil if I need to.

Where I stopped on Monday.

Then, it will be time to put down the landscape fabric, place everything and mulch.  The only thing left after that is the cleanup and enjoying all the fruits of my labor.