akirlu | Weekend Squiring (Reply)

Saturday afternoon, and the grumble and hum of lawn mowers fills the air. Small wonder, if the neighbors' lawns are anything like ours. Seems like just last week the grass was still dormant. But the weather finally warmed up a scotch, and "Whee! Ha-HA! I'm ALIVE! I'M ALIVE!!!" says the lawn. Ankle or shin deep, overnight. And you should see the dandelions.

So, we hied ourselves out and engaged in a bit of middle class virtue. I have cut up some of the yard trash left by the itinerant gardener, and I've pulled some weeds, and I've planted some bulbs, and Hal has been mighty and mowed all of the lawns wot get mowed. (I do not count the North side, which is too narrow, nor the topmost terrace, which is blocked by bits of felled holly tree.) There's lots more to do on all fronts, but it's the first progress we've made on the garden in A While.

I'm quite pleased to see success in the muscari bulb experiment: most if not all have all come up and sprouted tiny, tiny clusters of flowers. It's nothing very spectacular this year, but if the bulbs thrive in that spot, I expect it will be quite something a few years down the line. Certainly the tulips I planted for last year are coming up thicker and blooming more this year than last.

No, since you asked, I did not fly off to Modesto to see Dad. He didn't feel it was worth it to visit when he was in the hospital, and would rather see me when he's home and well. That's my family for you, but then, I am not sure I was up for another pelt through SFO quite so soon.