Rain, Rototillers, and Waiting for Plants

Sometimes I think spring should be called the "hurry up and wait" season. I love spring; don't get me wrong. What gardener doesn't love spring, or for that matter, who doesn't love spring after a winter of ice, slush and snow? March entered not like a lion but like a lamb, bringing unseasonably warm weather to Virginia.  My peach trees are in bloom alongside the pears, and I'm grateful that the trees were buzzing with bee activity.  Maybe, just maybe, we'll get some fruit this year, although the trees are still very young.  Everything is blooming - tulips, daffodils, crocus, forsythia, heather, peach trees, pear trees, Redbud trees.  Even the grass has taken on a twinkly emerald hue as the frequent rains and thunderstorms bring much needed moisture before the heat parching begins in a few months.

We managed to find a neighbor willing to lend us a rototiller; thankfully, they had two, a narrow one which we borrowed and a big one which they plan to use.  Thank you Joan and Mel for your kindness and generosity to us!  After a frustrating session last weekend where my sudden inspiration to actually read the directions printed on the handle got it started (don't ask; starting this rototiller is like an evil game of Twister, only if your foot slips it's going under the blade. The engineer who designed this thing had a sadistic mind.)  We got the areas near the existing flower beds rototilled, with just one area left near the entrance to the driveway left to weed...and yes, there are more big, ugly, thorn-filled, nasty bramble bushes, ragweed and you name it left in this pile.  Its days are numbered.

Not my weeds, but might as well be!

And that's where we're stuck in terms of getting outside work done.  The plants I ordered from the mail order catalog not only aren't here yet but their phone isn't answered. I managed to get hold of customer service via email, who keeps telling me my order is with the shipping department, but they can't give me a better idea of shipping times.  Every time we decide "tomorrow is the day we will tackle the last weed pile", it rains.   Same for the pathways in the garden, which require us to haul out the cement mixer and mix fresh mortar.   I keep looking longingly at the paths, but every time we start thinking about finishing up the edging, rain is predicted.  And you can't dry cement in the rain!

Rain might be a good thing, however, since rainy weekends means the house gets cleaned...and spring means the pets are shedding.  Shadow, the long haired German Shepherd dog, has begun the annual spring shed, which means gigantic tumbleweeds of dog fur the size of guinea pigs in the corners and on the rug.  I stocked upon vacuum cleaner bags and the current one is already half full; normally they last months, but at this time of year, thanks to the annual fur shedding, I could keep the company in business alone through my orders.

Spring is here, rain, dog fur, weeding and all.  Come to think of it, I'm sort of in the mood to clean....well, about as in the mood as I ever get to clean.....but that will bring me full circle back to weeds and dog hair, so I think I'll hide in my office and do more work and writing today.

Happy spring! What's on your gardening agenda this weekend?