Houses To Let

This day has been weather-wacky--it began quietly with grey sky, then fat snowflakes combined with strong winds bordering on white-outs. An hour later, the sun is out, the sky is blue and the snow is receding from the roads. Another hour passes and we begin the madness all over again.

March is  an ambivalent month.

The bird houses are ready and waiting for summer tourists. Mind you, it has never happened but I continue to dream. There is a ragged edge to one doorway where a bored squirrel took to whittling.

Those are mirrors on the back fence between the raised beds and the birdhouses.In a couple of months there will so much greenery you will only get a glimpse of the mirrors.

Let the fun begin.

Connect The Ankle Bone To The---

Two years ago I asked son #3 to make me a lattice screen to hide the rotary clothes drier.
The war still rages about the desirability of outdoor clothes lines. Don't ask me. I continue to hang out the clothes but I'm doing it gracefully to appease any fretting neighbors.



The following year, son #2 came to visit and he and son #5 built me three raised beds and you can see one attached to the lattice screen.

This was my opportunity to follow my original plan to plant a vine or two that would attach to the screen.



This year I stained the sides of the raised beds and the effect is pleasing.
Clematis thread their blooms through the vines and it's lovely.
You're not seeing that loveliness because when they were at their best, the brick men were installing the brick "lawn" and both the clematis and vines wore heavy, dusty grey beards.





This is where the clothesline rules. The growth is more lush on this side and I am delighted with the way this has evolved.

It all began when I stared out the window in the middle of a painfully long winter, dreaming of summer.

Lucky for me I have a collection of sons to bring my dreams to life.

Wins and Losses

The raised beds were a great idea. This one was intended to hold the oriental rhubarb and a smattering of spinach and lettuce. Instead, the horseradish, planted way back by the fence, crept forward and sneaked into everything this year.
The veggies surrendered and now the rhubarb is holding a shoving match with the intruder.
My kids love my horseradish sauce--it comes with fire extinguishers, so it has to stay. But how to contain it?
From what I've read, it won't be easy. Or possible.

The morning glories are charming as always; I installed a fine netting over the fence and they are winding their way up up from the end of their raised bed.

Then there's the ornamental grass. I thought it would be nice to plant it by the air conditioner so we wouldn't have to stare at the metal box. I guess I got the kind of grass that wants to shield entire houses from view.
that gate isn't mine--it belongs to the next-door neighbor.
I think I'll give the grass a haircut.