This is my first spring in the new yard. Of course I have been a neighbor of the yard for almost 8 years now, but with the mobile home gone, the whole aspect is different.
Many plants that I only viewed from a distance are now right in my face! It is thrilling to see the changes in them now that they get more sun and had much more water in the late summer and early fall.
Some of the changes in the yard that I notice on the last day of March, are all the daffodils we planted last fall. They started blooming on Feb. 13th before I left for India and are still blooming freely now. It was a great welcome home after a month away.
The huge Ceanothus bush which had always been hidden by the mobile home, has almost doubled in size since last year and is starting to get some of it's delicious blue color! I think the extra water last fall really helped it, it should be fantastic!
The enormous white climbing rose that spreads out into the swamp to the east has also really grown since last year, and is already starting to sport blossoms. I have ordered six more different climbing roses to plant over there along the fence line. Next year might really be spectacular though they will still be small. Hopefully they will get here soon so we can get them into the ground.
I scattered a lot of my wild and native seed mix over here too, mostly on the steep slopes to try to rein in erosian, and they seem to have had a great germination rate. Already the miniature blue lupine are blooming like crazy along with the usual buttercups, but the yellow lupine and the California Poppies are also starting to open up.
This late rain can only help.
Also having the water level so high in the creek is making the swamp full again and the otters are active over there from all reports. I haven't seen them myself, but I have seen the red shoulder Hawk who has a nest right above the swamp. Fabulous place to live and observe.
Opppps, I almost forgot the fruit trees that are blooming, apricot, pear and most beautiful, the nectarine. Bud break occurred in my random grapevines on Sunday though some haven't come along yet. Hoping we don't get an April surprise like we had a couple of years ago...just nice rain and light frosts if they have to come.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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