I had a GREAT holiday week-end, how about you? In honour of Earth day and spending time with family, I didn't turn my computer on over the week-end. I spent lots of time trying new recipes, working in the yard, and hanging out with family. I feel rejuvenated!
So let me fill you in on what I am now calling the 'North Patio Project.' Here's what I did this week-end (snow is still melting today in shady spots and it was generally too wet to walk around the garden):
Friday: french toast for breakfast; started lifting patio bricks around the area where the pergola screen is going go to (I've made some changes to the plan which I will tell you about later - sorry this picture doesn't show it well but essentially there was an awkward triangle of patio bricks between a retaining wall and where the greenhouse used to be - I am digging it up to turn it into garden space); lit a fire in the chimnea and had our first meal outside of the year (BBQed hot dogs and roasted marshamallows - yum!)
My five-year old helped pry an amazing number of bricks up from around this tree! The bricks used to go right up to the base of the trunk and were heaving and always covered with fallen spruce needles and cones - it looked awful! By making a mulched space around the base of the tree, it already looks better and I will have a place to sweep the needles to, making it easier to clean up the patio. I will be lifting a lot more bricks than what is shown here, but at least we made a start!
Saturday: homemade muffins for breakfast; errands in the morning, including a trip to the garden centre to buy vermiculite for the new raised beds (read about how much to add here); a little more brick lifting, plus a trip to the playground in the afternoon!
Sunday: Easter egg hunt!; eggs benny for breakfast; amazingly warm day and started putting the seedlings outside to begin hardening them off; continued lifting bricks and digging out the gravel from underneath; cleaned and set up rain barrels; siblings and their family over for supper, kids running all over the backyard, hooray for being outside!
Monday: I am fortunate to work for a place that makes Monday a holiday too! Perhaps just a little more brick-lifting is in order today. Plus I think I'll walk around the garden and see what's coming up. I tell ya, after a long, snowy winter and no sign of spring until 3 days ago, a few days outside in the yard has me feeling fantastic! What did you do this week-end?
I dug the edges of my flower beds and trees - everything looks crisp and ready.
As an aside, watch out for skunks! My neighbour thinks that he has another family under his front step!
Posted by: Paula H. | April 25, 2011 at 08:49 AM
Sounds great, Paula! That's one of those small jobs that make such a big difference. That will be on my to-do list for May...
I have never seen skunks in my neighbourhood but will remain on the lookout!
Janice
Posted by: Calgary Garden Coach | April 26, 2011 at 08:31 AM