Soggy soil

After several days of wonderful spring-like weather, we're back to soggy soil and runoff. I'm quite sure that the groundwater supply is WELL recharged by now. Squishing across the lawn, getting muddy shoes in the trampled areas, and hearing a first 'spring' thunderstorm this afternoon are good signs, I suppose, for an amply wet spring.

I haven't even checked the long-term forecasts from the climate folks, as I would worriedly do during our recent drought years. The lakes are full pool, meaning our city water supply is ample, and the soil and subsoil is totally saturated.

It's time for more sun and warmth, and spring growth, even if it means concentrated pollen release from wind-pollinated trees and shrubs (achoo!)

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Spring gardening

On a perfect spring afternoon, I was able to spend a couple of hours weeding, mulching, and transplanting lettuce, spinach, and radicchio seedlings. Tomorrow, I really need to pay attention to the meadow and perennial border, but the vegetables -- I guess they're pampered. They need attention, after all, being dependent on gardeners.

The tough meadow plants and native perennials in my borders don't need much attention -- just freeing them from the cloak of weedy winter annuals, too many leaves (from my gardening companion's raking efforts), and a bit of final tidying up of last year's stems.

Hmmm, clearly I take the 'don't be too tidy' prescription for good wildlife gardens to heart. My gardening companion says he's going to mow the 'lawn' tomorrow. It's gotten awfully shaggy, and if we didn't have (almost feral) neighborhood cats, we'd definitely have Eastern Cottontail nests in some of those grassy clumps.

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