The warm weather nudged me into action today. Winter shields me from feeling a responsibility to work in the garden, but that came to an abrupt end as the temperature shot up this weekend. What used to have a still, cold beauty just looked downright drab and sad.
After changing from a sweatshirt into a tank top, I knocked the cobwebs out of my gardening shoes and slipped on a pair of gardening gloves. I stepped from my cool house onto the warm front porch, windchimes enthusiastically tinkling in the breeze.
Clippers in hand, I cut down all the dead stalks and gathered them into piles. Then I grabbed the rake and dragged mounds of dead leaves together to toss into the green can. After smooshing them down as tight as they would go, I filled up an additional tall brown bag.
After an hour or so of clipping, raking, squishing, and sweeping, I surveyed the front garden with great satisfaction. It looks like early spring now, sprinkled with clusters of violet and pale lavender crocuses, clumps of buttery daffodils, and baby, kelly green leaves of lambs ear among the more mature silvery leaves. The tulip and hyacinth bulbs waiting just underneath the warming soil to burst forth with life will not have to push through the dead to make their debut.
I know we have more than a couple chilly days ahead of us before spring is truly here, but I have officially thrown out the welcome mat.
My Corner of the Village 