31 Bags of Mulch

So, there you have it.  31 bags of hardwood mulch covering the labyrinth garden, with only the grass walk uncovered.  If you start in the center of the labyrinth, where it bends back on itself, you can "walk" most of the path.  Just remember when you get to the section farthest away where it seems to just become part of the lawn at the top, follow the edge of the mulch,which would be on your left if you were walking, and it eventually turns back in on the far left side.  Just when you think you have it, the path disappears behind a big viburnum bush, but you can see the path emerging from the top of the same bush.  Another clue for the path are the series of six box woods that are in a row beside it.  Unfortunately, the entrance is cut off in the lower left corner, but my wide angle lens could only do so much.

Thanks to Mark and Steve for letting me use your balcony.  Sorry for disturbing your nap Steve.  Oh, you didn't want everyone to know about your afternoon disco nap?

Continuing the Cold March

Few flowers are blooming other than the hellebores featured last time and this patch of crocus in the grass.  these are the few that have survived a chomping marauder who has been chewing leaves and flowers from every bulb in the labyrinth area.  A rabbit has been active, but so are the long legged rats they call deer.  It is so frustrating since each year something new has become the "daily special" on the menu.

So, here is evidence of the last few weeks of cutting down the tall grasses. All of those short brown stalks in the front of the photo were 5-6 feet tall, and will return to that height in a few weeks.  Assuming the weather gets warmer!  This view from the neighbor's yard shows a variety of things on the site, including the ten tons of rock put in two years ago this month.  At the bottom of the picture you can see the remains of a concrete retaining wall put in many years before we bought the property.  It was intended to keep everything from sliding down, but soon slid down the slope and broke up itself.  Seeing the collapsed house on the coast near Seattle brings up worries about whether this area could every become that unstable.

Swinging the camera to look across at the slope behind the house, you can see how steeply it drops down to the flats, about 85 feet down.  Part of that area is covered by tall grasses, which slows down the erosion, and the mixture of hollies and Russian Olive is visible.  I try to control the size of olives, and am beginning to cut them back severely so other plants can grow in around them, eventually to get rid of them. 

The witch hazel trees are showing their yellow flowers, a very long season of bloom this year over the last month.  These are  Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise.'  Two of the original three are still alive after being there for ten years.  It is a tough spot for them, but they are such a cheerful presence.  Cutting a few pieces to bring into the house permeates the room with the characteristic pungent smell, another joy when temperatures are cold.

This weekend will be devoted to spreading mulch around before it becomes difficult with emerging foliage.  There are 40 bags awaiting my soon to be sore muscles.

Hellebores in March

The Hellebores have been slower than usual this year, putting out a few flowers but waiting for things to get better before really showing their display.  These photos were taken a week ago, while the thermometer was hovering in the 30's, and this Winter's Bliss was the only color to be found.  The arrival of warm weather has hurried the flowering, so now this plant is covered with a couple dozen of flowers.  Each flower is a pale yellow that is startling when all else is still brown and gray.

I have spent much of my outside time over the last two weekends cutting down the tall grasses.  I then haul it down the sides of the hill into the different stacks of decaying organic materials that are too coarse or  massive to fit into the compost  heaps.  It is also a time to find and root out any of the invasive vines.  There are still roots of wild grape vines and honeysuckle, among other invasive vines, that grow up into the holly, spruce, crape myrtle or even up the tall grasses.  They attach to anything that is vertical.

Working on the hillside is physically tiring, since the sandy soil is constantly sliding away under my boots. It is hard to concentrate on what I need to be doing with my hands when my feet have decided to take a trip downhill.  A neighbor describes me moving like a goat.  I often use my arms as well as my legs to get round.  If I feel myself losing balance, I essentially push my torso down onto the ground, face into the soil.  There have only been a few times when I have had to tuck my knees into my chest and curl up into a somersault and roll down until I can get my feet out to stop.

So, returning to the level area around the house, I delight in the few flowers blooming.  I did see a few striped white and blue crocus yesterday, so maybe we have turned the corner into warmer weather?