Mid-February brought some unseasonably warm temperatures. This day was especially nice! The kids and I were able to get several outside chores checked off our list. We didn’t get to everything before the cold settled back in, but that was ok. We were well pleased with our work and the delicious sunshine.

Item 1: cutting back old growth

I have a few flower and/or herb beds with nice soil. Otherwise, we’ve had to opt for small river stones around most of our house due to drainage and basement leak issues. This bed is on the north side of the house right off our deck. I grow some herbs like rosemary (annual), thyme (perennial), and echinacea (perennial) as well as flowers. The green you see popping up is hostas. I was able to get some transplants from a neighbor, who has now passed away, and they come up beautifully each spring. The boys and I expanded this bed last spring/summer to include the spot where the birdbath is now. My lovely mama gave me some transplants of perennial flowers out of her cheerful garden beds- they are just beyond the rocks you see. I don’t know their names. Otherwise, I have lupines, a lone hyacinth, and columbine growing in this bed.

Item 2: prune fruit trees and take off their winter protection

Each fall right after the garden is finished, the kids and I secure tomato cages around each of our young fruit/floral trees. And I double checked with Sweet Husband that now is a safe time to take the cages off again. We have deer that love nothing more than to rub against our baby trees in the fall and winter. I am far from knowledgeable on pruning fruit trees and I’m sure that I hedge on the side of ‘not enough’, but I am trying and that is the important thing. I pulled my gorilla cart (aka wagon) around with us as we traveled here and there, pruning. My daughter picked up the twigs I cut and my 14 year old son grabbed the cages and got them put away. We took the cages off of our elderberry and blueberry bushes as well.

Item 3: put a tarp down where we hope to plant our strawberries this spring

Sweet Husband has many large tarps that he uses in the fall. I was able to borrow one for this project. The boys and I have discussed where we might like our strawberry patch to go, and this place made the cut! It is actually directly south of the garden itself, and our blueberries are on the other side (left of the tarp). This spot is approximately 13×30 foot. The wind this day was definitely strong and had us nearly floating away under the tarp! But we held it down, some of us sitting on it, and secured it with brick-o-blocks and t-posts. Whew! Now to order our strawberry plants! I am looking at planting four 30′ rows.

This is the final photo I have from the day. It is my west herb bed and has many perennials as well as some annuals that drop their seeds and act like perennials. I am hoping the following come back for us:

• apple mint
• calendula
• sage
• chamomile
• lupines
• thyme
• bee balm
• oregano
• lavender
• rubekia

The bench holds some pots we used last summer for flowers! I love the look of the old utensils repurposed into something beautiful.

What are your late winter/early spring yard and garden plans? Subscribe and follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on our happenings on the farm!