Happy Earth Day

 Every year, on Earth Day, our local garden center hosts a sale on all of the previous year's nursery stock. Each year I make plans to attend. I've always had luck finding a variety of Hydrangea or some other perennial for 70% off.

Some of the varieties I've purchased over the years at this sale are PeeGee, Bombshell, Little Lamb, Limelight and Annabelle.

This year I happened to find five more PeeGee Hydrangeas. They were on sale for $10.

While there, I also picked up another White Japanese Peony Tree, 3 Annabelle Hydrangeas, 3 "Snowflake" Oakleaf Hydrangeas (a variety I've been looking forward to adding to my garden) and a few pots of "Cheerfulness" Narcissus. 

I can't get enough of this variety of Daffodil. I'd love to go back and pick up more to plant for Spring next year. I don't have any bulbs in the garden and these are so beautiful. I think they would look lovely around the tree in our backyard, and maybe a few little clusters in the front beds.

For now, I planted them in my containers for outside our front entrance. They really are so cheerful.

Their soft green buds unfurl into white double blooms with bright yellow centers.

I was also thrilled to see that our Lilacs along the West side of the house have budded.

This is the West side of the house. You can see the Lilac bushes between us and our neighbors. Right now, my entire front yard is a mess. Late last Fall we decommissioned our septic tank, and hooked up to city sewage. This was an awful job. The crew did a wonderful job tying down my Lilacs so they wouldn't have to cut them out, so thankfully we can still enjoy them. The grass in the front on the other hand, was completely torn up. We're still unsure as to what we are going to do with it; sod or seed.

However, in an attempt to start to clean it up, I edged in gardens this afternoon. I still need to order soil to finish the beds, but in the mean time, I've come up with where I would like to place the PeeGee and Oakleaf Hydrangeas I bought today.

All in all, what better way to celebrate Earth Day than in the garden?

The Arrival of Spring

First, and most importantly:

Happy First Day of Spring!

I think, though I'm ever so hesitant to even speak the words, that it's finally arrived.

Despite the lingering snow and unusually cold winds, you can hear that it's upon us. There is the continual trickle of melting snow, which has made the landscape mucky; the earth thawing out, smelling deep and rich. The geese have begun migrating back home, and soon the pair of swans in the park will make their way back to their familiar pond. The Crocuses have yet to push their way through the ground, but the Forsythia and Lilac bushes have ever-growing buds appearing on their bare branches. Even the birds seem to be busy around the yard, their song a little lighter and sweeter.

All in all, we are more than ready for the changing of the seasons.

Spring, for us, is a time of renewal. It brings with it a sense of rejuvenation.

This has taken on a much more practical feel for us lately. On Monday, the 'For Sale' sign went out on our front yard. To be honest, we aren't entirely sure what the next few months will look like for our family. We've found an old home in a neighboring city that suits us, and if we are able to find a buyer for our home, we will be happy to make the new start. However, at the same time, we are in love with our home. For now, we are patiently (for the most part) waiting for God to lead.

In the meantime, my house has never felt so clean and put together. We've had eleven viewings in the past 3 days. It's encouraging, but at the same time, it takes a lot of work to keep your house in a state of perfection for viewers. It's actually quite exhausting, especially with two little boys. However, it's also been a wonderful source of motivation. I was reminded recently of a William Morris quote:

"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."

Last week, I think I made a trip to our local thrift shop every single day. I also donated bags of baby clothes, sold a few good things on Kijiji, and whatever was left, that wasn't going to be needed for a while, was boxed up and stored away.

It feels so wonderful.

I also recently found this cream quilt set from Home Sense. It's actually a King size. I prefer the larger size so that it drapes nicely over the sides. It was on clearance for $70. It's lighter and better suited for when the warmer weather arrives.

And so now, we simply wait.