Spring has esprung! More from the homestead.

not sure where to put the scalloped cinder blocks just yet

see me watering?

grape hyacinths 

cardinal's nest in the backyard!  see the lil' egg?!

confined violets

Ah, more spring!  I am so happy the weather has been nice lately, and reasonably seasonal.  It has been a bit hot on certain days, and yes, I am so nervous about this summer (I love working as a gardener, but the summer heat and Maryland humidity KILLS ME), but on average it has been in the 60s 'round here, and that is just right.

Take a gander at our garden!  The first pic is of our tiny front plot, with our grand weeping cherry in all its glory.  Its floral blooms are giving way to budding leaves.  The daffodils are phasing in and out: those hairy, multi-petal ones are blooming strong now as others wither and fade away.  You can't quite see in the photo, but just a few are along the walk as you enter, just where I can see them on my way in.  I'm pretty sure I snagged those from the woods (as with many of my daffodils!).  The grape hyacinths were already on the property, and I've transplanted some from the back to the front yard.

Check out the bird's nest!  This one is in current working order.  I saw the momma making the nest a few weeks ago, unsure if she would settle on the location since it is right in the open nook of a bush in the back corner of our rear yard.  Well, she's still there, and so is an egg!  I didn't want to bother her this morning, but I was putting food in the feeder and disturbed her just before Josh could take a picture.  Oh, well!  So you get a pic of the egg!

And lastly (for now!) here is a pic of our violets.  I have an old wheelbarrow that someone put out in the community garbage a few years ago.  It had a few rusted out holes in the bottom and guess wasn't worth their while to keep, so they pitched it.  Well, of course, here comes lil' Annie wheelbarrowing it back to her place for 'something'.  So I turned it into a planter.  Over the years it has had Gerber daises and other annuals.  This year I may put more annuals in there, but I think I may just put some of my more invasive, running perennials in it, like peppermint, lemon balm, and the wild violets that are in the yard.  The first two I mistakenly had purchased years ago and are still popping up in the yard here and there (Mistake!!  did not realized how invasive and spreading they'd be!!), and the latter is a 'weed'.  But I still like them, so I was hoping to set them aside in their own container:  wheelbarrow it is!

My resolution for this year is to not buy any plants, since I have the pleasure of taking giveaways at work.  But I may have to get some succulents:  check out this DIY cinder block planter post!  I think it's awesome!!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/modern-diy-outdoor-planter-93540

Cinder blocks and liquid nails!  How easy!  =)

What's life without constant creative projects?  And without a garden??!!  Keeping it coming, xoxox Anne