Yard Work; Tardy, but Welcome.

I should work in my yard more often, but with schedules and weather being diametrically opposed to that, desirable tasks gradually evolve to urgent chores and a figurative stitch of repair becomes a major project of recovery for lack of timely attention. I've not been able to concentrate on outside responsibilities all this spring, growing things have been sadly neglected, and clutter has triumphed.

For the last couple of days I have put hand to plow, so to speak, and have attacked some of the most overdue jobs. Mulch piles have been turned for the first time in months. Mowing of tree rings and corner weed collections is done. The leaves from last fall have been run through the gas powered power grinder. The dead limbs and twigs from last fall's downed tree are at least loaded in the trailer to be hauled away. Th three grape vines received a brief sorting and pruning and will get through this season before demanding major attention. My meager remaining collection of plants has been fed and groomed. The whole lawn and miscellaneous edges have been uniformly mowed.

A few weeks ago, Edwin hauled away almost all of the useful lumber and plywood to build his yard shed (see "Hole in the Lawn Revisited"). Additionally, several contractor size debris bags have been filled and discarded. Three plastic milk crates once useful have gone away. The remaining of wood scraps are cut to short or small pieces and boxed for campfire use. The whole garden/greenhouse corner is cleaned including raking up the loose rocks and gravel and placing it in five gallon plastic tubs for removal. Dozens of black plastic nursery pots went back to the nursery. Everything else useful went to the recent church garage sale. The last of the tree sections have been split and added to the winter woodpile which is covered and tarped again. Quite a lot of surplus stuff has been given away or routed to other ends. Simplicity is returning to the orchard area.

Only a couple of piles of dead limbs and the annual accumulation of needles and pine cones around the lawn trees remains for the next two or three trailer loads. Then I can tackle the overgrown rhodendrons that have been under-pruned for several years. A small pile of building felt and roof shingles remains to go away. I need to walk all the yard to pluck out the plantain weeds and dandilions, and I'll probably have to spray the patches of clover that are invading the grass before I fertalize the grass. I'm getting several moles from neighbor yards and that war is now underway too. The front beds along the single lane street out front need some cleaning and raking, and I want to rearrange the large rocks that now irregularly line the driveway. Nevertheless, so much progress in the past few days has lifted my spirits considerably.

Also on the brighter side, my little collection of orchid cactus is in riotous bloom and I enjoy hanging around the arbor just to admire and wonder at the beauty and scope and variety of these magnificent blossoms. God is an amazing artist. Several young little cactus received in trade at the recent Yard and Garden Idea Fair provide additional pleasure as I consider the subtle varities of color and spine patterns. There is a some fruit this year on the cherry trees, there will be a few domestic pears and Asian pears, and maybe enough plums to make jam, and several apple trees are producing too.

The drawback, of course, has been overall soreness and aching feet, kidney pains, and the lingering tiredness that takes several days to get over. Still, I have truly enjoyed for the first time in a long time the level and amount of progress that has been achieved. The partly cloudy days have been just warm enough for all the labor, and My Bride has helped by bringing water and sandwiches at welcome intervals. It's just starting to look like a park setting again instead of a junkyard. That fits my idea of simplyfying everything and minimizing the clutter. Y'all come have a look. I've got extra rakes if you need something to do.

You will be welcome.