We’ve been busy planting, planting, planting around here since the weather improved. The crew’s gardening skills have really taken off this year and they’ve been doing a lot of independent work. It’s a new stage for us when they can manage the tools and plants with little or no supervision.

We prepped the trellis fence line for beans and peas and set the seed potatoes out to callous. They should be ready to go in with the onions, beans, and peas later this week–as long as the rain hold off a couple more days.

We also put some time into the flower gardens. My flower gardening philosophy is that I’m willing to baby a plant for the first two weeks, but then it has to be able to take care of itself. We have very low-maintenance flower gardens. But a little extra work in the spring to start the season off on the right foot goes a long way. We put in some new annuals and herbs, did some weeding and clipping, and are all ready for mulching next week.

This year we’re trying something a little new by putting some mosquito repellant plants by the doors and porches. This plan has lots of benefits even if the bug-angle doesn’t work out because most of the plants on the list we’re using are also herbs that can be used for cooking, eating, or cleaning. Wish us luck!

And, of course, there’s always time to stop and check out the odd snake or bug that comes along!

If you drive by our house on a sunny weekend, you’ll probably see us out and about. All of us. Even the dogs will be hanging out in the yard while everyone buzzes around. One thing I love about our cattle dogs is that they have no great desire to wander. Even Red, as just a pup, stays right with her people and just naps on the porch or behind a shady bush. Fence or no fence, leash or no leash, the only place they’re going is wherever you go.

All the recent rain has really gotten our place up and blooming. The peonies are opening and the irises are out. Butterfly Weed is poking up and the Lantana is already higher than the weeds.

Things are coloring up nicely in our yard. How about with you?