Looking up........sort of..............

All the tree trimming done. Now there is a lot of empty space and a big mess. I have a much larger garden than I thought.

I am not sure what I will be doing with this mess. I sort of have to wait until everything begins to come up because I don't know what will. There are a load of Day lillies under the first Pine tree. I will wait and see how they look. Maybe for this year they can stay, they may do better now there is a lot of light. Then with some wood chips that may do for that one. The next Pine leads to a part of the garden. I took down the fence that was just a partial, not sure if I can put that back or not but I need to stop kids running over the flowers when they come up. I have 3 shrubs at the back of the garden area and I am thinking 3 more would help eventually form a hedge. Boxwoods are easy to grow and shape. Looking from the road side it looks like the fence is the best way to outline the area. I think I may be able to do that without a lot of cost. I hope so anyway. In the meantime some boxwoods would help to define the area.

I would like to buy some more pieces of the fence but not sure I can do that. I think I will dig up that whole area and start it over. The 3rd Pine tree I didn't cut so low. For now that will be on hold. I will plant more ivy under that tree. Maybe with some more wood chips and some transplanted Hosta it wont be so bad. I have the old plough to use in that scenario.

The first pine from another angle. You can see from that side that there is a lot of space to use.

This is the first pine. Close to the house.It had a lot of dead branches. So after trimming those it looks bare and nasty. The Day lillies will come up soon and then I can thin those and maybe I can coral them and maybe outline with Hosta's.

The side of the house by the porch had very large shrubs that were no longer savagable. They had grown stringy and rough so out they came. I am saving the Forsythia and will shape that when it stops blooming. I am hoping to find cuttings to move out back where another Forysthia is dying. It's old and needs some new shoots.

The bench is coming out and I will cut that Forsythia into a shape and encourage the ivy below it. I will clean all that out and make it look good again. I am hoping we can save the bench by putting new bars in it.

What a mess and no real plan of what to do with it. We have to redo the porch this year. A new roof so I probably wont decide on this part until thats over with. I have enough other things to do as you can see. Meanwhile the whole front yard needs to be done before I can even think about this part. I hope I can get everything done before it gets hot. Cut back on the work for next year. Jeepers.

April showers bring flowers..............

We had one day of rain, just one. Today was cloudy and cold. It's not going to get a lot warmer and I even heard mention of snow. I really don't think we will be getting snow. Tomorrow is Saturday and we want to finish trimming bushes and trees and raking up the leaves and junk. The back yard is done. Now the side and front to do. Come May it will be time to prepare the vegetable garden.I am looking forwards to that. It will be a bit of work but I am hoping for success.
Today we had a different visitor, well not new but rare for us. Very pretty little finch type bird, looks like a Sparrow with yellow cheeks. He was scratching around like a chicken. I hope he comes back.


I identify him as a White Throated sparrow. Closest I could find anyway. Please correct me if I am wrong as I want to know what birds come to my feeders.

So Bessie now likes being outside. I think she is learning from Boots. I have seen her explore the adjacent gardens but so far not too much further. She has discovered she can get in and out of the bathroom window. I put my glass top table under that window that may have been a mistake.She is enjoying climbing trees and chasing squirrels.

Boots is showing her how to go potty outside.Thankfully in MY garden and not Buds. Bessie is watching her. Watch and learn.


The birds are not here as often as they were, they are no doubt finding enough to eat.Also busy nesting. The Cardinal couple are busy with their nest above the porch and may stay long enough to raise some kids.


Spring flowers are popping. When the sun comes back out they will really pop.I wish they would spread quicker. The ones I don't want to do. I have to dig out some Lilly of The Valley before they get going again.



The Trillium is trying to bloom but not quite yet. Soon the woods will be full of them. We put some more in last year but I am not sure if they will come up this year. I am hoping because I love the Trillium.I love it when we drive out and see woodlands full of them.

The Primroses are blooming, the yellow ones are budding. The red ones come out first.

The Hyacinth are up.


These are from ones I have bought to have in the house, I love to do that when the snow is still on the ground. Makes me dream of Spring. I think maybe getting real garden ones would come up fuller but hey, these are spreading and will revert to what they should be at some point.
The Chickadees are here as always


Then there are the pests who are here every day without fail

Did I say that all the fish survived. Here is a picture of the black one. It's hard to see except in full sun.


All four are doing well.
The we have the Yellow Finches, they discovered the seeds.


Those guys sing so sweet, I can always tell when they are around.
So tomorrow is Saturday, I hope that it doesn't rain because I want to get busy trimming trees. It's exciting after all the anticipation all winter. I just hope it doesn't get hot really quickly and foil my plans. So much to get done this year. We need a new roof. New porch and we need to get the window done out back. That is not my department though.

They Live................

The fish are alive yeahhhhhh!!!!!! Another year gone by and they survived the winter. I was a bit afraid at first. I usually see them as soon as it gets sunny. Well I did once, just enough to know they made it through the winter. Then they disappeared. I was worried because the pond was looking murkey. It really needs cleaning. The trouble is I am afraid to have it cleaned because the change in water can kill them. I think I will get some pond cleaner instead. Just clean the filters.

I still have not named the fish. I am still reluctant because all my other fish had names and died. The black one has grown and is more in the open than it used to be.

Anyway, it was nice seeing them have some fun today out in the sunshine.

I didn't get a picture of the orange one by the looks of it. I wonder how you can tell the sex of a fish??????
I wonder who the mum was. Who had the black fish? I wonder if they will have more. Also, will Mr Toad come back?

The old ash tray is still in one piece, it is beginning to rust. I put a plate on it for the birds to bath in. I saw Robins bathing the other day in my concrete one that is laying on the ground so I know they are looking for water.
Some of the flowers are coming out finally.



Still not many just yet but they are working on it. Some have popped above ground. We are working on the spot for the veggies I will post about that on Bluebell Woods.

Cats playground..........................

Not much happening in the garden at the moment. Our newest cat, Bessie is now allowed outside. Well, she didn't actually ask permission. She said Boots goes out so I goes out, and out she went. Both cats are conflicted at the moment. Both want out but do not like the snow.Bessie trys to avoid stepping in it at all costs. She doesn't like the wet either.
So when she goes out she finds a sunny spot and watches the squirrels and hopes for the Chipmunk to show up. She acts much more agressive than Boots. Boots pretty much ignores all but Chipmunks.

Boots went next door because Bessie is in her spot

The Robins are a little happier now they can get their beaks in the dirt. This one waiting for it to warm up a bit.

There is little change in the plant world. The Daffs are tightly closed and will wait now for some sunshine. I bet by the end of the week everything will shoot up and begin to open. I will get pictures then and see how long it takes.

I went to McGoughs and got new bird seed. This lot should now last till Fall. The won't need so much in summer.
I will need to get my fountains fixed but will at least keep the bowls full for now.

Bodi who has been reluctant to go out, or off the deck at least, is venturing forth again. Hope that will help trim her down.
The Blue Jays are appreciating the fill up at the feeder. I love how they broadcast it to everyone within hearing distance

Meanwhile Bessie comes in for a nap. I am hoping she will be like Boots and stay around the garden. She certainly knows how to ask to come in.

Boots was already inside napping down stairs on one of the beds.

Everyone came to dinner......................

Wow, I went and looked out the bathroom window and didn't know what to do first. Birds, all over the place. The Crows came. The Starlings, the Finches, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Cardinals and all the other usual suspects. I didn't know where to point my camera.
The Starlings were looking a bit damp

The yellow Finch was nice and bright

The Cardinal was showing off.

The yellow Bellied sap sucker

The Nuthatch

The Downey

The Crow

The Blue Jay

Even the Robin. It likes that rusty pan for some reason

The Junco

There were a few more but I have to show this squirrel enjoying some of my bread. I had made the dough but it didn't rise. So I baked it and gave 1/2 to the critters.

The female Finches were there too

Cute little Downey, I think it's a girl.

This guy was looking smart


This was a good shot because I was down in the garden and she flew right up next to me. Funny how a different angle makes them look so different

Anyway, not a lot to say today but wanted to get some of the pictures out. It's still snowing. It's also raining. It is melting, slushy and yeuk. I need to replenish the bird foods but I am out of money at the moment. Meanwhile I put out what I can and have emptied out some older things like cereal and they are liking the Cranberries I put out for them. They say not to give bread to birds. Well, if a bird is hungry like those Starlings I am sure bread is better than starvation, so if thats what I have thats what they get. I normally buy the black seeds, sunflower seeds, peanuts shelled and in the shell. I give them good food but I also buy bread for them. For the Crows I put out meat and anything that does not get eaten. I put the table scraps out for anyone who wants them. Rabbits, Possum and most likely Raccoons.

I think that Boots is one of the beneficiaries of the scraps. Hmmmmmm. I would not put it past Bessie either.