Gardening and Chores

Hellebore Blossom

And so spring must be on the way we have daffodil blossoms and the hellebores are beginning to open.  The Hellebores should have already been in full swing; however, the cold winter slowed them down — in fact, I was beginning to wonder if they made it.  In case you’re not familiar with Hellebores — also called Lenten Rose —  they are late winter or early spring bloomers.  They need shade and alkaline soil.  This knoll where we live has alkaline soil and that’s why we have no luck with azaleas.  Right now (and even before now) the Hellebores need to have the old foliage cut and removed.  That would let the new growth and blossoms  show up better; however, I doubt this elderly couple can get that accomplished this year.  The woods will be full of blooms before long and John has sold them for years, but age has taken its toll.

I’ve not had the best of luck with the tomato seed I planted a few days ago — I think I have ten babies and only one is the running variety.  I really do hate to lose that one — we’ll see.  Perhaps I have not kept them wet enough —  it seems I have them too wet or not wet enough.  Gardening is somewhat of a gamble, you know.

Oodles of chores need to be done now, too.  Our Pampas Grass needs to be pruned back and that’s a big job. Those blades will cut your hands if not wearing gloves and even then one can get nipped.  Mid March is also the time to prune roses.  Roses are not my thing; however, I have two I’ll prune.  The one commonly called Joseph’s Coat is our favorite.

Now is the time  to put out  onions, plant greens — lettuce, beets, etc.  All this sounds like work, but it, too, is country living.