Wednesday

 Well, the best laid plans have gone a rye.  Or something like that. The plan was to work till noon taking the half day off.  Nope.  It didn't happen.  Almost but not quit.  I DID sit down but then I got up again.  

The morning started with coffee on the patio.  Woo.  There was a second treat bigger than the coffee.  A huge bird flew from our Smoke Tree to the neighbor's tree.  What was it?  So I scrambled to see and took the following picture.  

                               My best guess is a Great Horned Owl.  They are huge with ear tufts.                                         What a blessed way to start the day. Late in the afternoon once again the owl chose to sing.

I spent the morning cleaning out a ton of plant stuff.  This early spring has been a doozie with what I call Woodland Touch Me Nots.  I'm sure they go by another label.  I'm always excited to see them since they are the first to awake.  

                                                Notice how busy they are.  Hogs for sure.

Then they keep growing and since they seed themselves there are LOTS of them.  They now are finishing their blooming season and are taking space away from better things.  So the shovel came out and I filled the garden cart quickly. Currently, more holes but more room for sure. I'm sure they will be back next year having planted a lot of seed over the years.

I call the holes breathing room.  I moved ground cover with tiny white flowers, Sweet Woodruff along the stepping stones after another adjustment was made with stones.  That is such hard work. It should be making my bones healthy with all the heavy lifting.  Maybe!  

                        That is one heavy piece of concrete but the step works better at that level.

Another ground cover called ? Jenny was removed at places and that will continue as needed.  Jenny is also a great spring thing but she never knows when to stop.  She's quite the boss. 

The afternoon was a bit hot and I tried to water everything that has experienced a recent move to a new spot.  I received a few thank you looks when checking on them in the evening.  

I made a run late in the day to Ace for more potting soil.  More parsley seed came home with me again.  It's really being stubborn this spring not wanting to cooperate. I have another little pot to plant with shamrock plants Kat gave me to bring back to life.  They look great. They will sit in the shade.

Supper was under the umbrella this evening.  The first of 2026.  After hardening off a bit the butterfly weed was planted.  They are tiny but I think they will do well. 

         Four butterfly weed plants will blooming bright orange.  The monarchs love these for egg laying.                                  The two at the ends are old and busy.  The two in the middle are the new plants.                           The common milkweed is getting thick.  So would someone please let the monarchs out.

So, the day was a good one even if I didn't follow my directions.  Maybe tomorrow.  Maybe Friday.  Rain is predicted.  That helps.  The body is tired but it's basketball time.  The energy to play that game as professionals is amazing.  I'm to old for that kind of conditioning.  I get it!!!!  No I got that a very long time ago.