13 February: and so it begins

Monday, 13 February 2017

Cold weather, a brief back problem, and an intense desire for hide out and read postponed our starting work this year.  I was using the excuse that the whole peninsula has been economically affected by the lack of clamming tourism this winter so no one would mind if we started up two weeks later than usual. (The clams have tested positive for a toxin, which happens sometimes, and so clam season has been delayed and delayed again.)

I’d written the first work board of the year several days ago.

Allan had loaded the tools into our van on Saturday.  As he loaded buckets into the trailer, I talked through the window to Jasmine, one of two new neighbours right next door.

introduced myself to Jasmine

in our garden (Allan’s photo)

Ilwaco

We began close to home with the Ilwaco street trees and planters.

Allan’s photo

weeding at First and Eagle

The boatyard garden can wait for a couple of weeks.

Ilwaco boatyard, north side

crocuses in the planters

Allan’s photo

in front of Azure Salon, before

I had been looking forward to tidying the alyssum from under the tree and to pulling a dead erysimum from this planter.

Rosemary blooming in front of Azure

Nn front of City Hall, the plant offerings are not from me.

Anchorage Cottages

The Anchorage garden got some clipping and waking up because this coming weekend is a three day holiday (Presidents Day) which will surely attract guests.

tidied center courtyard in 60 degree sunny weather

Allan trimmed a buddliea at the entrance.

before

after

I hadn’t intended it to go that far back but I think it will be fine and probably quite refreshed. If not…well…buddlieas of the old fashioned seedy kind are considered noxious weeds now, anyway.

Allan pruned one large-ish ornamental grass….harbinger of many to do the same thing to soon.

after

spring bulb windowboxes

Iris reticulata

I was pleased to see there have been snowdrops.

In bright sunshine, a hamamelis scents the Zen Courtyard

Long Beach City Hall

We trimmed another grass (Allan) and a hydrangea (me) before heading back to Ilwaco.  Allan’s photos:

before

after

before

pruning

after

Ilwaco again

We finished with a tidying and clipping of sedums and ferns at the Ilwaco Community Building.

hamamelis, probably ‘Diane’

crocuses

Allan’s photo

Iris reticulata (Allan’s photo)

by the entrance to the library

At home, I clipped back my Melianthus major, which, as Melissa had put it, was “not amused” by this winter’s heavy freeze.

That is one small area clipped. So much more to go in our own garden.

We are expecting two more good weather days and are going to focus intensely on Long Beach town next.

work board t0night

 

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