Month: February 2019

Toad in a Trance

| Flower Roberts

I suspect these high temperatures tricked my toad out of his torpor.

I am sure my snooping around weeding and cleaning also disrupted his winter rest.

He spent all day yesterday perched on this rock at the top of the wall.

I checked on him many times yesterday. He was unresponsive.

I did not touch him for fear he might plunge to his death, if disturbed.

He was still precariously perched last night when I went to bed.

This morning, I was pleased to find him in a less exposed location.

He has moved to a space between stones, not far from the hole he emerged from.

He still won’t look at me, maybe he blames me for early emergence. Typical toad attitude.

FLOW

 

Unmulch: Remulch

| Flower Roberts

Get out there while the weather is good. Gather your tools and gloves.

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It’s clean-up time in the perennial beds here in the south.

There are babies on the way.

New bloom growth of Hellebores and Epimediums are peeking out of the ground.

 

I also cut down evergreen ferns now so I have a clear view of the lovely new fiddleheads.

Get all those old stems out of the way before new growth emerges.

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It is much easier to do this now than have to be careful around the new shoots.

Removing old mulch and fallen leaves also removes disease and insects.

Replace with a fresh light layer of pine needles.

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It is not spring, but you need to spring into action.

Like the saying about a horse costume… I’d rather be a head than a behind.

FLOW says GO!