Into the Wild – Weekly Musings on our Yard’s Transformation | April 14th – 20th

Yardwork:

• This week, I didn’t get any yard work done. I was recovering from an allergic reaction that hit me last Saturday, and between that, the unexpected chilly weather and snow, and being out of town on Saturday, outdoor tasks were just out of the question.

Gardening:

• On Sunday, I planted a variety of seeds, including pumpkin, squash, watermelon, cucamelon, cabbage, marigold, and lavertra. While it might be a bit late to start these, we still have five weeks until our average last frost date. Surprisingly, some of the seeds are already sprouting faster than I anticipated, so I’m feeling optimistic about their growth despite the timing.
• Our onion sets have arrived and are ready to be planted (once the garden is ready of course!)
• I’ve placed orders for the majority of the plants and flowers needed for the front garden bed we’re revitalizing. While aiming to include Wood lilies and Castilleja, the plugs were unfortunately out of stock. Here’s to hoping they’ll be available later this year or next. Additionally, there’s still the task of finding the perfect bird bath to complement this space.

Flora:

• We’ve observed several more plants starting to emerge throughout the yard. However, it is still too early to ascertain their identities.

Fauna:

• I had the pleasure of observing a Mourning Cloak butterfly delicately savoring sap from our maple tree. Witnessing this serene moment definitely makes me want to invest in a macro lens, enabling me to capture the intricate beauty of backyard insects with greater detail and clarity.
• Though it’s still quite early in the season, I’ve eagerly set up one of our Hummingbird feeders to ensure it’s prepared for when these delightful birds make their arrival.

Misc:

• We returned the low-quality wheelbarrow, only to find ourselves at a frustrating impasse in our quest for a replacement. Despite looking at a couple of stores, the models we potentially had in mind were nowhere to be found. Even attempting to order online ended in disappointment, as the advertisement of “worldwide shipping” excluded the very item we wanted. Who would have thought that acquiring a sturdy wheelbarrow could present such a formidable challenge?
• We’ve received all the supplies needed to set up bird misters throughout our backyard. I am excited to get this set up once the risk of frost passes.
• After dealing with some delivery shenanigans from a courier, my garden hose and nozzle have finally arrived after a replacement was sent out.
• I immersed myself in a couple of videos about backyard wildlife habitats, discovering a wealth of new information about birds and native plants.
• We purchased a patio umbrella and a decorating rod for the patio table (which I still need to design and build), allowing us to hang lights (and possibly a vining plant) from it. The umbrella turned out to be taller than I anticipated (I didn’t look at the dimensions before ordering), raising some concerns about safety given the power lines hanging over our patio. Unfortunately, it was too windy to test it out, but hopefully, the wind will calm down soon so we can assess its suitability for our patio. (We do have an alternative option on where to place it should the power lines be too low).
• We made the trip to my parents’ place on Saturday to switch my winter tires to summer ones. It was also our first long journey with our pup, and I have to say, it was quite challenging. The poor guy was stressed throughout the entire day, and it left me feeling absolutely terrible for putting him through it. We were all so thrilled to be back in the comfort of our home that evening.
• My dad generously provided me with a collection of hand tools, power tools, and gardening supplies, with more to come when they visit in a few weeks. With these resources at hand, I’m excited to finally kick off some of the projects I’ve been eagerly anticipating! I am so grateful!

Thanks for reading! Until next time,
Tracey

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