Just Thinkin'

            Here I sit, waiting for the REAL spring to arrive. We had a few warm days, enough for my daffydills to have buds that are 3/4 open. All roses have greened up, the lilacs are leafing out, and other ferny looking perennials have big leaf clusters already and if I really looked hard, there would be buds formed at the base, ready to sprout up. So...... seeing how I had to shovel yesterday and today, my fingers are crossed I won't have frost damage this year. That is the problem with the early budding garden. There's always the risk of frost damage. The nursery catalogs sell covers and veggie growers use them regularly, but I have feeble funds, and my priorities lean towards mulch, compost, and flower packages. Case in point: the other day I was in Wal-Mart and leaped at a package of double-flowered Siberian Iris. Almost hurt myself. But they were a "must have" for 'ol Lynchie. I have a slight obsession with Siberians, want one of every color. They are idiot-proof. Plant once, they double each spring, and you get to have them all over your gardens for a tiny one time investment. In just a few years, you have enough to sell, share, or do whatever else you think of with them. They are hardy as a Sled Dog as well! I have scoured through dozens of catalogs to get different colors.                            I am a big fan of roadside adoptions as well. I keep a pail, jug of water, and a small shovel in my truck at all times, because you never know when something might appear, waiting for you to bring it to a better place (your garden, with mulch and primo care). I have even been at a yard sale, talking to the homeowner, and she has offered me a plant of hers! Be prepared at all times is my motto. You might spot a prospect while driving down a side road in the country- who knows??? In a week or so, I know I'm going to have to prune the apple and plum trees. Gardens still are a learning experience for me. After 60 odd years.... Last year I was exceptionally proud (be careful Kathy.... you know what the Bible says about Pride) to see an overabundance of plums on my tree. The very next day, I heard lots of chirping and squawking and as I looked, the entire harvest got consumed by birds  This year I have mesh to cover the trees and I won't wait so long to pick the fruit. I might even  have enough to do some canning. Last year I built a few trellises that my ever increasing Clematis collection will use nicely. They are painted a rose pink color. I am going to have to use tree limbs to make trellises for anything . else that needs support this year. Two years ago I built an enormous rose arbor. It took two days to make, and 2 people to get it in place. But I had wanted to do that for many years, and if I had bought it at a garden center, it would have cost several hundred dollars. Now four different colored roses can scramble all they want. One is a New Dawn rose I bought about 24 years ago. It would have covered the whole house if I did not prune. I  have a white, a yellow, and a Joseph's Coat that fill in the corners. There are also 2 Chocolate vines tucked in there. All I need is fertilizer and mulch to sit pretty and watch the flower show. Last year a couple were walking  by my house and admiring my gardens. The wife told her husband she wanted to do the exact thing with their yard. The husband laughed and looked at me. He said, "She did not do this in a week of work". I laughed, and shook my head. He asked how long (meaning years) it took me, and I said it was 26 and still going. I was happy that there are some people out there that realize it is a labor of love, but not an overnight wonder. Well now, diggers, I am going to close and watch a movie....Maybe a Harry Potter classic. Last week they were all on in a row so I got to tape them in order. I must admit, I never saw all of them and I am all for a good Fantasy!