spring busy

It's been very warm. Leaf beet chard is growing back, surprise-

Opened up the sides of my makeshift row cover to give the tokyo bekana fresh air. Soon I will take it down altogether.

I am tired and sore from working outside. Spreading mulch from a tree we had taken down, that had too many dead branches threatening the neighbor's house, and shaded the garden. It's strange to have that side of the yard feel so open, exposed. I'll be glad to see how the garden does with more light! So yesterday and today I shoveled mulch, then today I stacked wood from the tree (for fires later on), trimmed some suckers off my crabapple, tidied up some dry stems out of perennial beds, and moved seedlings up into pots. 

Also, admired the green-flowering stinkin' hellebores. They are so odd, and the brightest growing thing in my yard right now. Next to the euonymous deer have been pruning for me all winter- and it turns out they ate my inkberry, too. And my bayberry looks unwell- lots of leaves dried, brown and shriveled. And I accidentally killed my ice plant (put it outside for acclimation and forgot to bring it in one night when it got just too cold). But! the stinking hellebores are nice. I've read they are prolific self-seeders and I hope so.

I took down all my irish spring soap hangers from the yard- they look tacky and are not at all deterring the deer from eating my shrub. Went back to chopping the soap bar into bits and scattering it. My sister told me the deer avoid scented plants they'd pick up the scent by brushing against, which would make it easier for predators to find them? perhaps that's why they never come into my garden which usually has marigolds, cuban oregano, hyssop, winter savory and rue smelling strong. Maybe when the soap was scattered on the ground it deterred them because they don't want to get it on their feet. Or maybe they just never had sampled my bushes before and now will always come back unless I fence the yard. Or grow more stuff they don't like. Such as stinking hellebores.

I'm rambling. Well, I did something new today. Took some of the cuttings off my crabapple and brought them inside. To see if I can force the blossoms. It would look very pretty!

Tomorrow I plan to turn the compost pile, then plant snap peas, beets and turnips. Also to photograph the young plants which are so lovely, and spending their first night outside in the coldframe and greenhouse (yes, both- there's so many!)