Garden Fairies

Back in the fall, we visited one of our local garden centers. They had this beautiful fairy village display set up. I couldn't resist trying to get a few shots. I'm not a huge fan of fairies or anything (unless they will WEED for me), but I loved the beautiful garden arrangements, stone walls, thatched houses, and the incorporation of living things into this display.

Are you feeling inspired for spring?

Around here, we had our share of eighty degree days early-on, and then it was back to forties and fifties, and a few sixties.  I can't complain, though - we really have had beautiful weather.  It's just the "back-tracking" in temperatures that's been a little hard to take this year.  As soon as I say that too loud, people are glad to remind me that I live in OHIO, and I should be USED TO waiting a minute to see the weather change.

Ahh, well.  Some things you just never get used to.

Those eighty-degree days brought early blooms, and EARLY WEEDS.  Typically, springtime doesn't begin with quite so much weeding around here (not one of my favorite chores, can you tell?)

But, I have been pulling weeds here and there, and I have to tell you -- we have a new weed in our yard this year.  It's showing up all over the yard, and I'm wondering if anyone else has encountered it.  It's very distinct, in that, when you grab it to yank it out, little things FLY at you.  At first, I thought it was bugs.  However, they fly, fall, and disappear -- and you can't see any movement.  So, I think it's tiny seeds that are flying.  And they really are FLYing. It's kind of startling -- especially when I first thought it was BUGS.

It's kind of a tallish weed, with spiky leaves (similar to rosemary).  It started off green, of course, and has since turned a little purple-ish.  Oy.  Something tells me we're going to be seeing a lot of each other this summer.

What's your favorite outdoor chore? (Me?  Planning and planting - both of which we do by the seat of our pants around here.  We certainly do NOT  stick to any hard-and-fast gardening rules.  Anything goes - and we do NOT fertilize or baby things around here. It's sort of every plant for itself, and then we applaud the winners.  The real winners are the ones that come back year after year with out being asked.)

...and your least favorite?  (ummm, HELLO?  Did you hear me say weeding? *wink*)

I think we can all probably agree on the best reward!