Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Cleaning up outside..............

This past weekend was all about cleaning up all the dead plants left over from the Winter.  I spent several hours outside each day pulling things out, cutting them back and planting new plants.  


This mess is the area in question.  Boy so many plants were dead and needed to be pulled out or replanted.  It took hours to cut back.  But I was so, so happy when it was all cleared out.  Even with nothing planted it looked better than  the overgrown dead plants.


Sunday saw me reorganizing, and planting some nice new flowers.  I try to keep myself within a budget for new plants.  For a little amount of money you can make a big difference.


Looking out from my family room/kitchen I can now see dots of color that will hopefully grow into a beautiful garden.


Well that is if the deer don't have appetizers at my house.  Not sure this plant will make it after the evening feast.


My garden boxes are really doing great.  Look at how everything has grown.  I have been feasting on the lettuce, my goodness it is so good.  I never actually thought lettuce had so much flavor.


My tomatoes have flowers!


And I might actually have two or three strawberries.  I planted these late in the season, next year I will plan better.


This Superhero spent a lot of time outside with his walker and his bike this past weekend.  He had the best time.  We don't need an amusement park, we just need to go outside for a bit each day to make this little one happy.


He is making progress with his very own pair of canes.  They arrived while we we in Iowa.  He doesn't even really need us near him now when he walks with them.  They are hard to use so he fatigues fast, but every time he uses them he is getting stronger.


He is quite something isn't he?  I think he is looking older, and he is talking so much that even though he is tiny, his brain is working a mile a minute.

Thank you so, so much for your wonderfully kind words about my Berry Edged Shawl.  I am quite in love with it at the moment.  But suddenly it is really hot here in Florida so I am not sure I will be wearing it any time soon.

Hope Spring is showing up where you live.  And remember while I know you are a bit jealous I am in the garden, you will have the last laugh come summer time and I am stuck inside with intense heat and humidity and you are all out on your back porch drinking tea and enjoying your flowers. 

42 comments:

Linda @ A La Carte said...

So nice to see Little Buddy doing so well on his crutches! Getting stronger is so so good. Tiger is all about being outside on nice days now also. Not sure I'll do a container garden this year or not. I haven't got the garden bug yet but when I see all the plants in the stores I might!
hugs,
Linda

Betsy said...

Hi Meredith, I'm home and it's beautiful here too. Your little guy IS looking big. He's walking so well and just looks HaPpY. So sweet. Your garden is looking great. It will be months before we can harvest here in the north but the signs of spring are very promising.
Blessings,
Betsy

Toni said...

Oh my! He's getting so big!

kathy b said...

Your garden will grow wonderfully!! We are still many weeks from planting, but I'm just thrilled with 49 degrees and sunshine today. ;)
I love that we all have different growing zones. Makes blogging very interesting almost year round.
Lil BUD looks amazing with his walking canes. He looks so very ..well..upright!
Hi to Max!

Amy at love made my home said...

Well everything is growing well at your house!!! The veggies and strawberries look really great, and will be very tasty I am sure. Buddy is growing very well and doing so well with his canes isn't he!! A real hero! It is amazing when you do some tidying in the garden and just add a few things what a difference it makes isn't it. I hope you can have some more fun in the garden this weekend! xx

CJ said...

Dear little man, how fast they grow. He's doing brilliantly with the canes, he's such a star. Your fruit and veggie boxes are looking fantastic. And the tidy garden is great too. I've been tidying up a bit as well, it's that time of year. CJ xx

Home Meadows said...

I am looking forward to getting out and digging in the dirt. We have a lot to do outside, but I can't wait. LB is such a sweet boy and it looks like he is doing great with his new walking sticks. Your pool is so pretty, I don't imagine you can live in FL without one! Have a nice evening, Heather

Between Me and You said...

Your posts always give me the Vitamin C buzz I need over here, where it's still bitingly cold in these unforgiving winds we've been having, even though the sun is shining - and more set for tomorrow, accompanied by rain!Mr Superhero is thriving and he is indeed losing his 'little boy' look and turning into a 'little man'. You're doing a great job there, Meredith, inside and out. xxx

Acorn to Oak said...

I have a lot of work building up in my yard and need to get out there and get busy too. Little Buddy is so cute and that's so great that his new canes are working out so well and that he's getting stronger and stronger. I love that he loves being outside! That's awesome!

elns said...

I cannot believe how much he has grown. You are right. He definitely looks older in these photos. they grow so fast. I know, sorry, cliche and cheesy but true, non?

Judy S. said...

Tomato blossoms in March, now that's impressive! It'll be a long time for that to happen here, even in the summer! Your garden looks great, and so does LB. He sure has made a huge amount of progress this past year; thanks surely to your tender care. He is lucky to have you and the rest of the family!

Anonymous said...

Little Buddy's face is definitely changing. But, that's what "big" boys do. LOL

I love that he is just ready to try everything new!

Good luck with the garden. Two of our pepper plants went home to the "garden in the sky". I'm busy trying to keep the two left over alive. It may be hopeless. LOL

Jennifer Hays said...

Your yard looks very nice and Little Buddy is certainly growing fast! It's nice to see him so active and having lots of fun.

Joyful said...

Meredith you always amaze me with your energy and what you manage to get done. Your gardening is no exception. That was a lot of work in a short time and I hope it bears "fruit" (no pun intended). Little Buddy looks just as cute as ever and seems to be getting around very well.

My Garden Diaries said...

Love the color you are adding to your bed there friend! And your veggies look outstanding!!! Now as far as the weather...we have to deal with that heat as well so I might as well move to Florida!! Oh and the bugs! Now as for that superhero...he does look a little older! Such a doll! Here is to outside play! Happy week friend! Nicole xo

Kris said...

It always feels good to do those things!
Little Buddy is adorable!
xo KRIS

Unknown said...

Your flowers look great. It is great to see color! You should have lots of tomatoes! Little Buddy looks so happy with his new crutches.

handmade by amalia said...

Out with the old, in with the new! Spring is coming! Your garden looks wonderful and so does little Buddy.
Amalia
xo

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

Buddy is quite determined to walk. Will have to catch up on that story. Our spring is early this year. So much is blooming abd tulip festival is a week early. I have a few new plants and am gonna plant them soon. I enjoy eating home grown lettuce as well. Too bad the tomatoes do not come at the same time. Take care and i like your latest finished project. Nice!!!

Teresa Kasner said...

Oh my, what a dear little man he is.. I really see him walking on his own and even running some day and you will know it was your help and encouragement that made it possible. You're my hero. Will you give him a hug for me? We took the boys to get haircuts today.. they looked so spiffed up afterwards. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

mamasmercantile said...

I am so impressed with the flowers on your tomatoes, strawberries and eating lettuce. I haven't even thought about planting out yet we are still getting frost in the morning. Its wonderful to see Little Buddy doing so well, I just love that little mans cheeky grin.

Gillian said...

Your garden is well ahead compared to ours. My husband tidied up the strawberry plants last weekend but we won't have flowers on them for weeks yet. Probably June before we have any fruit. Little Buddy is doing so well and is starting to look like a grown up boy.

Una said...

The seasons really are advanced where you live. Spring is only just waking up here. I cleared some old plants at the weekend and, I agree, it makes a big improvement. As for Buddy, he is looking much taller and straighter and grown up!

Christina said...

Well done you for tidying the garden. It is always nice to get ready for the new growing year. I have planted some snow drops a friend of mine dug up in her back garden but that's it all. It is still too cold for a proper garden day. It is funny, one day the little ones look like little ones and then within a minute or two they look like boys. I hope I am making sense? The toddler look just disappears and the future man becomes visible. Strange that. Have a lovely week. xx

Géraldine B. said...

B. looks older, I agree and stronger .... Very good job you've done in your garden and ... I'm not so jealous because I know that soon I'll be in mine each sunny day .... Have a lovely week !

Tanna said...

Oh, that little Superhero is so precious! He is looking so "grown-y"! A man in a cape always steals my heart!

I hope you do find time for that raspberry and cream (white) shawl!! blessings ~ tanna
ps your raised boxes are doing GREAT!

kathyinozarks said...

Your garden is looking wonderful, I am anxious to clean up some areas here too-but too muddy still-your veggies are doing awesome! Little Buddy seems to be doing better all the time-I replied to your email the other day and it was returned-again-lol just so you know
hugs Kathy

Unknown said...

I'm so happy for Little Buddy, even from the pictures you can see he's doing great! : )
I think you did a great job in the garden; I've just put my cacti in the open air after the cold cold Winter, now I'm about to start repotting, so... yeah, some quite hard work aheah, but worthy for our little plants, isn't it? xx

Mindy said...

Look at Little Buddy go! It's so good to see him getting stronger and stronger! He's a smart cookie, too. =)

I'm hoping to do some gardening this year, but we have a few more months to prepare. ;-) At least the snow is really starting to melt this week! Yay!

Jo said...

I have had a good old sort out int he garden this last weekend. I got a spade full of snowdrops from my dads today because he has sold his house and I was cheeky and put a load in the boot of my car!

Willow said...

Hello there! I have been so incredibly busy that I hardly check around on the internet. And look what I missed--a gold sweater AND a berry shawl!
I'm amazed at your little man's progress with the canes. So determined.
Lately, our weather has been foggy in the morning and then sunny in the afternoon. I certainly don't complain about 70F. But I'm loving the flowers.
And I must say that your photo of the cosmos is making me think---I should plant some of those in a pot!

Gracie Saylor said...

It is fun to see how your garden grows, Meredith :-) We have some garden boxes that did well last year and we are eager to plant this year. Also, my youngest son-in-law just finished building some raised boxes using scraped wooden pallets. My youngest daughter planted some heirloom seeds inside under a grow light and they are sprouting! I'm glad Little Buddy is enjoying being outside and thriving in his life in general. He is a Super Hero! Also, I am glad the hats you made for Taci were not permanently lost and hopefully they made it to her. I got another inch done on the yellow knitted hat I am knitting. Hooray! Love to you and yours xx

MaryLynne said...

Hi Meredith, Little Buddy is looking very handsome:) How great that he now has his own canes that give him another choice when it comes to mobility. Great progress!! I really like your shawl from your last post. I have been teaching myself to knit off youtube and I think your shawl would make a great project for my novice fingers. Its taken a lot of patience not to give up and just get out my crochet hook:)) I can enjoy looking at your lovely garden pictures while I wait for the snow to finish melting in my yard. I am sitting out on my deck today writing this, but Im wrapped in blankets...lol. Desperate for Spring!

Bestest,

Mary Lynne

linda said...

Well done on getting so much done in your garden already Meredith it's looking so tidy you put me to shame mine is such a mess and the gale force winds we've been having hasn't helped matters one little bit. Little Buddy is coming on leaps and bounds he's doing so well bless him. :) xx

Jill at emeraldcottage said...

nope, come summer i will still only remember the nice warm sun and blue skies and air con of Florida, and wont remember the heat that wipes you out, so I will be envious then as I am now. Maybe Im just envious because to me Florida = holidays which = less housework, or cooking, + pool to cool off in!
LB looking so cool. Love the cape. My garden is so bad your before pic looks like my after one. Oh well!
Jillxo

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Oh Meredith, God Bless LB, he is a doll and I love his spirit and drive! Hugs and Kisses to him from Vermont! So nice to see your gardens, enjoy and so nice to be outside!
xoRobin

kristieinbc said...

It's great to see Little Buddy doing so well with his walking canes! Tidying up the garden is such a great feeling. I've done a bit of it myself this past week. We aren't to the stage we have tomato plants flowering (we won't even be able to put tomato plants outside for another two months), but I did put broccoli in my garden this week, and we have flowers blooming. I hope you're fully recovered from your roller coaster experience in Iowa!

Maureen said...

All that lovely green! We're still at least a couple of months from planting things outside. But the snow is melting and it's starting to feel like spring!
Little Buddy has grown so much in the last while. He looks great using his canes.

Carla from The River said...

Hello Friend,
We are enjoying some Spring weather in Wisconsin. It feels so good. :-)
Little Buddy is growing. Thank you for sharing him with us.
xx oo
Carla

Wainwright and Wright.Co said...

Always love to see photos of Little Buddy, he has such a cheeky, happy face. Your garden is looking great, and enjoy every bite of your strawberries
Caz xx

WildflowerWool said...

You are giving me hope that Spring will arrive! Our snow is still melting here.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

He is growing leaps and bounds under your care. How wonderful that he is able to have so many modes of transportation. :) My plants were doing so well but seems they are all going through a stunted phase at the moment and some are turning yellow. Not sure what is going on. Good luck with your garden. It's only going to get hotter from here on out. Hugs, Tammy