It Doesn't Get Any Better than this!

What a week.  Cleared-up on Monday afternoon and stayed sunny through Friday evening.  I worked in the garden six to eight hours each day.  Got lots done.  Most fun I've had in many, many months.  Hard to imagine anyplace more beautiful than Juneau on a clear spring day.

And to think that just a couple of weeks ago it was snowing...  Hah!

Mr. Lockhart finished felling the trees I hired him to remove.  It makes a HUGE difference in the amount of sun the garden receives.

I tidied-up all the existing flower beds and installed and got soil for my new raised beds.  Bought and planted a bunch of annuals and a few perennials.  I hardened-off the perennials I started from seed and they got poked in the ground too.

I love my house and my garden.

So, without further ado, a garden tour.

One of the trees down in the yard; removal will continue this weekend.

Bill did an outstanding job and managed to put all but this one tree down on the side of the hill by the highway.  Amazing.  I had nightmares about large trees falling on school buses...

I really like this new bed...got the iris from Auntie's yard...

I have deployed two deer abatement strategies.  Strategy #1:  the ol' garden stake obstacle course

 The Normandy Beach obstacle approach

And Strategy #2:  the bio-deterrent.  I am not particularly fond of marigolds; but deer are reputed to dislike them immensely.  In my new raised bed I planted the majority of the perennials I started from seed and surrounded the tender young plants with marigolds.

The stinky plant approach

I have also begun development of my rock garden.  This will take years; but could be quite attractive.

Gonna get lots of sun here now!

Got my planters about half planted

A truly beautiful evening

Time to relax and enjoy my handiwork...

Sadly we have returned to cloudy and drizzly skies for the weekend.  So...will devote myself to Mother's Day supper for the elders.  Will consult with said elders in a few minutes - halibut or prime rib?

Life is good kids!

Deer, Oh Dear

Welcome to Monday kids.  We are all excited here in Southeast Alaska.  Spring has been scheduled for this week.  It is clear to the west...I can see the Chilkat Mountains bathed in sunshine.  Still murky to the southeast; but we are supposed to be in full-blown sun by this afternoon and continuing most of the week.  Highs in the low 60's as the week goes on.  Whoo Hoo!

I am anxious to get outdoors.  Lots to do in auntie's garden, mom's garden and my garden.  I will start today by raking and fertilizing auntie's yard.  Will also lift, divide, and replant a large mass of bearded iris in her garden - keeping a share for myself and one of my new beds.  Will go get some peat moss and soil for my bed and get the iris tucked-in.  Then will fertilize my yard.

Mom's garden has many clumps of astilbe and yellow day lilies and tomorrow they will get the same treatment as auntie's iris.  I haven't divided them in four or five years and they need some attention.  Mom's yard is still pretty soggy, however.  Don't know if it will be ready for fertilizer this week or not...

I have some new neighbors - and they are going to be a serious problem.  A young doe and buck have been hanging-out the past week.  I have seen them most every day.  I can approach within five or six feet of the buck without disturbing him.  I find this very disturbing.  It's like they are just WAITING for me to plant some nice yummy stuff.  Clearly it will be necessary to take some deer evasive action although I do not yet know what that will be...

 

Is that the dinner bell?

Elmer's flowers - they're what's for dinner...

This morning I wandered downstairs for coffee, looked out the window, and was greeted by numerous tweety birds hunting and pecking in the yard.  They did not look like the juncos that have been hanging around of late. The binoculars revealed new residents - a mixed flock of Golden-crowned and Savannah Sparrows.

Savannah Sparrows are common here

First time I have ever seen a Golden-crowned Sparrow however

Sparrow peek-a-boo 

 In other news, I saw Amanda off to Portland this past week.  Sad to see her go; but completely understanding as to to her desire to be in the city.  She will be living with Leah until she gets a job and they can find a more commodious crib.  The job market is much improved in PDX.

My cousin Sandra was in town for a week.  Hosted her and the elders for supper on Saturday.  I think the meal was well received.

Well, time to hit the road gang.  Gonna be a gardening fool this week...