Yardscape

 It's time to start the Spring cleaning!

Normally we would have everything tidied up by this time

but with all the storms, well ... it just didn't happen.

The court yard gets covered with leaves, twigs and 

those long seeds that look like someone crocheted them.

Then we'll have to repaint BBQs and do a little fountain

work.  The liner finally wore through so it will be a 

good chance to really clean it out.

It looks like the fire pit will need some  paint as well.

It's great to have a place to throw leaves and other debris

   then light it and warm up for a few minutes.

I think we'll be here tonight, sitting with our goat raising

friends and finding out how everything is going.

It's supposed to be pretty cool tonight so the fire will feel good.

Shrubs are blooming now, attracting bees and 

early moths and butterflies.

The peony's looked pretty good until the storm

on Wednesday.  Now they are doing what peonys 

normally do when they get tossed about.

   Laying down!  Last year I staked them and it helped a lot.

 I love the bee balm.  We have two types:

one is a short version and the other must be wild

because it's very tall.  It always attracts lots of insects.

I've never tried making tea with it, I'll have to read up.

  Now that I'm fairly confident we aren't having any

immediate threats of hail, I added the topper to the

bird bath.  It always looks nice with the iris

but the cats would prefer it left on our porch,

better to balance and drink from that way.

I just love the mama bird feeding her baby.

This used to be our camper.

Now the roof failed and my husband says it not worth saving.

I wish I could convert it into some type of  potting shed

(or a house for the cats!!)    

  I'm not very talented in construction and the husband says 

No, he won't do it, it's too far gone.

The trees that line the driveway have some

strange growths on them.  I don't think it's good.

I've seen the larva on this plant.

Not sure what to do but pick them off.

Our hostas have really loved all the rain, 

so has the ground covering that trails over the stones.

This is one of the yucky culprits.

More on this later but I've seen three types of 

caterpillars this year and they are out of control!

I guess a good, wet spring will do that for you,

last season we went from winter to a summer drought

so  the only pests we had were squash bugs.

This year I think I'm in for it!

Linking to Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop