Flowers are Blooming!

We drove down to the coast this weekend, and I was amazed at the beautiful flowers blooming!  It seems like just last week we were once again hit with a cold front and the flowers were no where in site.  Now, they are popping up everywhere!  I love spring time!!!!!

I look forward to the upcoming Easter holiday when we can see the bluebonnets.  Hopefully, we will be able to get some great pictures.  The bluebonnets come and go so quickly that we always seem to miss them.  This year though, I am ready!

Enjoy the flowers this spring!

And again... it is cold!

Just when you think it is safe to put away the winter clothes, Mother Nature has different plans. Again over the weekend, we were in the thirties and forties down here in Houston.  Ugh!  But, regardless of the cold and rain that hit this weekend, it promises to be sunny again this week. So, once again we can begin to prep our beds, plant our flowers, and then enjoy the beauty of nature!

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Spring has Sprung!

Today, specifically this afternoon, was GORGEOUS!  Yes, this morning was questionable, but the sun prevailed giving us a fantastic afternoon.  Therefore, I am excited to say that spring is here!  Of course, there is a small tingle down my neck telling me that I may have spoken too soon, but I don't think so!

I am looking forward to watching the new flowers and plant growth.  How exciting!!!  I hope you enjoy this first few days of beautiful weather that you have, too!!!

Weeds- where do we begin?

I have had multiple conversations with people recently about the crazy number of weeds that are overtaking the yard.  In Houston, our winter has been much harder than in recent years.  We have very little green grass left; in fact, many of us have no green in our yard.  The exception- those pesky little (or in many cases, large) weeds.  The weeds come in multiple shapes and sizes, but they are all incredibly resilient!

So, where do we begin?  Our goal is obvious- remove the weeds and leave the grass.  We could resort to chemicals, but besides the obvious issue of adding chemicals to our land, we also have to know either the specific weeds to kill, purchasing multiple types of chemical weed killer, or expect all weeds and any remaining grass to be killed in the process when using a general weed killer.

The second option is one that is much more environmentally friendly- natural, organic weed killer.  A mixture of vinegar and water should do it; the problem is that this is non-selective- everything, grass included, will perish.

Therefore, the most effective way to rid yourselves of the pesky weeds is by hand!  Doing so now, when the ground is still moist will make the task slightly easier.  Yet, it is still back-breaking work.  Without a doubt, you must pull the entire root system of the weed out during this process.  Yet, once the weeds are removed, we can look at preventative measures to keep the weeds away from your lawn!

While de-weeding your yard is never easy, there are multiple products that can be utilized to make the project a little less back-breaking.  There are weed pullers and various trowls that can be used to help with this process.  Good luck to you- down with the weeds!

Mulching Time

As I am sitting here waiting for an appointment, I notice the efficiency that the gardeners use in putting out mulch. They lay out the bags of mulch before ripping them open to spread them out. I am reminded of two things: how important mulch is to water conservation and how efficiency helps save much more than just time- it saves your back too.

It is now time to think about bed prep. So, measure, plan and mulch.

Spring has sprung- almost

While the official start date for spring is still a few days away (March 20), it is definitely feeling more like spring in the Houston area. Yes, it is still cold and wet. But, the afternoons are beautiful- clear, blue skies and SUNNY! With this weather, I am truly starting to think about how to change my garden, especially since everything has died from the winter weather.

I look forward to spending some time outside without having to bundle up in four different layers. I am sure to those from the North, our winter here in Texas is nothing. Yet, it is not often that we beg for the heat. Yet, that is what is happening- we are begging for the triple digits! How long that will last when the heat actually hits, I am not sure. For now, it is exciting to note that the fabulous spring weather is on its way!

Spring has sprung!

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