Gardening in March?! What??

Our beautiful, unseasonably warm weather continues for most of this week.  I think today is the last day til the weekend where we are having sunny skies and temps in the high 70's.  So, this guilted me into going out into the backyard to begin cleaning up the junk left over from last Fall.  Last Fall, I was preoccupied with training for a half marathon, and I pretty much left the yard to the fates.  Besides spending one afternoon blowing leaves from the lawn, I cut down a few perennials and called it a day.


Doesn't look too bad for being neglected.  I have to keep reminding myself it's only March, and not late April.  It's hard to do when the lawn is turning green, and these are popping up about a month earlier than they should:

Bleeding Hearts--I have two plants, and they will triple their size in the next few weeks.  Can't wait to see them flowering.

Daffodils are up and blooming!  Reminds me that I need to plant more for next year.  They make me smile.

These are my "Crap, I don't know what to do with these, so they'll go here" plants:  tiger lilies.  Also known as Ditch Lilies, since they grow wild here.  Just pull over on a country road with a shovel and dig a few up.  Love to see them in the summer blooming all over the back yard.  


And I even have a few hostas already up.  Huh?  Most of them are still hiding.  And--happy day!!  I believe my lavender plants have survived another winter and are showing some green.  This past winter really was so mild, I would be shocked if they didn't pop up again.  The rosemary and oregano I had in pots on the patio have been cut back and are showing signs of coming to life again.  Thought they were toast, but the other day I saw green so I cut away the dead stuff and checked again today and now there's even more new green growth. Saves me a bit of money on new herbs--so I can spend more on basil plants. 


I'm looking forward to spending more time in the yard this summer.  It is a great way to work those muscles--especially the legs.  The first few years I had my house, I spent a lot of time around the yard, putting in plants, digging up grass, and putting down rocks.  Now it's time to reassess, plant new stuff, and have lots of flowers blooming in the coming months.  


And I'm so out of shape, 30 minutes in the yard raking, clipping, and pulling junk has left me sore.  Off to ride my bike!  Enjoy the day :)