I didn’t take any pictures because there’s nothing to see, really, but I finally got the MLB feeders up this morning (four of them, at least), and I removed the wintercreeper from around the pond. I was going to leave it because it’s perfect for the spot, and the creeping jenny that C gave me is non-native anyway, but then I remembered that I’d seen some Virginia creeper down by the creek last year, and eventually found it. I thought about buying some on ebay, but the only seller who had live plants (cuttings, actually) is in FL. It’s a native species here, but IL Virginia creeper already knows it’s chilly here right now, and FL Virginia creeper would take some time to adapt, and may die in the process. It’s just barely starting to leaf out, and you can’t even see it because I put the mulch back atop it after planting, but the vine I pulled happened to be exactly the right length for the area where I wanted it.  I did notice that there’s more pachysandra than I’d thought; I guess I’m just too impatient for green to poke through the mulch, so I assume death instead of just not leafed out yet. The Allegheny won’t spread as fast as Japanese pachysandra would, but it will grow, and if it escapes into the woods, no harm done. Not so for the Japanese variety!

EDIT:

It’s crappy, rainy and chilly, but there is happy moss on a rock in the bird pool of the pond.

Also, I finally got around to potting the taro and caladium. When I forget, the three sun-tolerant caladium are in the bigger pot, and the three smaller ones are shade caladium and the taro that won’t be submerged in the pond. I finally broke down and ordered the landscape foam so I can do floaties for the pots that won’t be on the island.

“I found this in my house. Never mind where in the world my house might be located–that’s superfluous information-and ignore the fact that this thing is 3mm long and I took the photo from a distance of 1.5m with a potato at 0300h with the lights off. What is it?”

Jesus Christ, you people. It’s 2016. If your phone camera sucks and you don’t want to upgrade, go to ebay and invest $25 in a used P&S with a fucking flash. OR…identify your own goddamned creepy-crawlies.

Probably a booklouse, but that judging only from the general shape and colour of your blurry blob, and estimating size by the texture of the wall.

Mangled remains of…an ant? Fuck, I don’t know. OP said it bit, but they always say, “this thing bit me” any time an insect or spider may potentially have come into some kind of contact with their skin.

M arrived on Wednesday evening, and I’d taken two days off work for his visit. The weather was decidedly uncooperative, but we got stuff done anyway.

Thursday, I tidied up flowerbeds; taking out dead stuff and pulling weeds. M offered to help–he really is quite lovely–but I don’t mind doing that stuff, and he was here to see P, not slave away in the yard for me. Anyway, I got most of them done on Thursday. Lots of green peeking through, and at least some of the Radio Red salvia made it.

On Friday, P and M went to pick up some soil and mulch for me that will be used in the No-Mo flowerbed I’ll make soon. M had a truck, so I got lots. He not only went to get it, but stacked it neatly on the patio.

They also picked up my baby pine trees. Tree Dude is coming tomorrow to tell me what it’s going to cost to get the bush honeysuckle out of the way so I can plant a pine grove.

P asked M to go up on the roof to blow off the sweetgum balls. Thank Christ for gutter guards; without them, I’d have said no because it would be too much to expect of someone who doesn’t actually live here! Anyway he made short work of it, and tossed my extension ladder around as if it were nothing. Christ, it’s all I can do to wrangle it in place to climb a tree. Anyway here’s the Texas Leafblower Massacre, and the roof is clear of debris!

I didn’t do much on Friday because we were taking photos, and therefore, scary hair, no makeup, and ratty gardening clothes were out. We took pictures as the sun was setting, then sat mostly in the garage, drinking and talking.

Cat Gangsta. I took another with a serious gangsta face, but I like this one because he’s laughing.

M left this morning at a bit before nine, and I went out to do the cosmos bed, which I cleared of debris, weeded, and seeded. There are lots of 544 Bright Lights seedlings, but bees think more is better.

I threw Mammoth Russian seeds in the bare spot where I’d planted that tough stinging nettle. They’re a few years old, but I threw them in by the handfuls, so even if 10% germinate, that’s plenty.

I planted some dill and carrot in the Black Swallowtail bed.

I think Wave petunias planted themselves. Too small to tell for sure yet, but we’ll see.

I put in two more stepping stones. Only two left to go!

Planted pots of scarlet pumpernickel and oak leaf morning glory. I also put morning glory and Monarda fistulosa in Sarah-Flah’s garden.

When I moved the old lady’s clematis last year, it came with a bonus violet. I left it…and I know what all those little seedlings are! Don’t care–I love wild violets.

I love them so much, I took the volunteers that were growing in an old planter and put them over by the pond. I remember picking violets from our lawn for Mrs. Fletcher when I was in Grade Primary. Mrs. Caldwell, too!

Virginia bluebells are beautiful. I’m glad I planted them even if they don’t last for long before going dormant.

Volunteer tomato in Sarah-Flah’s garden, nowhere near last year’s volunteer tomato.

In “still indoors because taro is tropical” news, we finally have a tiny sprout.

A bit damaged by the cold lately, but the first bract has appeared on the dogwood out front. I’ll take it, damaged or not!

Laundry tomorrow, then back to work. I’m glad I took time off, though; it was nice getting to know M a bit. He even knew what plants crave, and nobody gets that!

P.S. I also planted the saliva ‘Vista Red’ that I’d got a week or so ago into hanging pots. Two in the Trail of Tears bed, one out front, and one outside the Man Cave. I should’ve had my MLB feeders out by now, but I swear I’ll get them done tomorrow, and now they’ll have some red flowers, too.

P.P.S. Threw 3000 Dianthus seeds into the south side of the Honeysuckle Horseshoe. Hope I don’t regret that! 🙂

I was too tired to write anything last night, but I did a little yard tour after work, and found these.

A phlox that the deer missed.

A volunteer spring beauty in the bed near the phlox. Sure…I plant some, and then I get a volunteer.

I also saw a few leaves from the spring beauty that I planted in January, but flowers would be a lot to expect.

Jerusalem artichoke is alive. I wouldn’t have worried about a native, but it got pretty dry last summer, and it was a new addition, so I wondered.

I didn’t take a photo, but I think the Radio Red salvia made it, too. Fingers crossed!

My clothes are in some creative spots, but I took Friday off to make my closet into a guest room. I spent 9.5h on it, but it came out okay.

I finally got my speakers back up, and my office put together. I drilled the world’s most careful hole in my desk for monitor cables; I’d forgot all about it before I put the desk in place.

Also took down the 29g tank, and moved the fish into the 55. I had asked P to catch them, but after I accidentally caught one of the false juliis while I was scooping tank gunk, I decided to try to get them all, and I managed. The Ancient Mariner gave me the hardest time! I vacuumed, half-assed dusted, and finally, two months to the day after I pulled off that first strip of wallpaper, the room looks the way I want it.

I spent the rest of the weekend cleaning up the mess I’d created with my two-month long wall reclamation project, and doing the laundry. I was too busy and too tired to write any of this last night.

I worked my arse off Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but this is all the gardening I have to show for it. Ten tiny jewelweed seedlings, parked in the bird pool until I make their floaties.

I gave up on the stupid moulding for today and perhaps tomorrow, but did nonetheless manage to accomplish something. We’re civilized again!

One step and then another…

Rain held off just long enough for me to finish.

I had five minutes this morning, so I put a coat of paint on my repair.

I also put a second coat on the printer cabinet doors, but no pictures because they look the same.

After work, I carefully taped up drop sheeting so I could clear coat my furniture. Miffy’s hair didn’t help, but the fumes were awful even with open doors and windows, so this is probably all it’s going to get. Good enough; I’m not hard on my stuff anyway, and I want my computer back!

EDIT: I put another coat on my repair, so (assuming it’s the right shade when it dries) I can have toilet paper on the wall. Then, I cut one small piece of moulding and tacked it up, then set the nails I’d put in yesterday. Finally, I put the printer cabinet in place, so my office is nearly complete. Doors are open to let the clear coat dry, of course.

I also decided to put the doors back on the printer cabinet. Probably should’ve let them dry another day, but to hell with it–I’m running out of time. Good enough!