Every spring since I started gardening, I reach the point at least once when I feel so overwhelmed by what has to be done that I seriously think about sitting down for a nice, long boo-hoo.
There just isn’t enough time to clean it all up! I don’t have enough energy for all of this! Everything is asleep and it’s difficult to imagine a garden springing up from the ravages of winter.
Thankfully, Mother Nature usually kicks in about this time and starts presenting small gifts. The hellebores climb out of the rotting leaves and from under the snow with profusions of blooms.
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Kingston Cardinal’
The daffodils poke their heads up and begin to bloom.
The tulips aren’t far behind.
Garlic that I planted back in the fall is growing. And it’s safe to put out the lettuce starts.
And it all begins to look hopeful and (Dare I say it?) pretty after all.
Hi! I'm Robin Ripley author of Wisdom for Home Preservers, published by Taunton Press. I am also co-author of Grocery Gardening. Bumblebee is about my life in rural Maryland, my garden and my love of food, my little dogs and pet chickens. You can follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. Thank you for visiting!
by RSS |
by email
To get the latest Bumblebee posts in your email box, just enter your email address.
Baking
Birds
Blogging
bluebirds
brother
bulbs
cake
chicks
daffodils
Dogs
Easter egg chicken
eggs
fall
Flowers
food
garden
garden seating
gloriosa superba Rothschildiana
Grocery Gardening
hellebores
hens
Johnny Cash
Lowe's Creative Ideas
Memphis
Meredith
Miss P
Moss Mountain Farm
My DIY Summer
P. Allen Smith
Palazzo di Pollo
Papillons
Philadelphia Flower Show
Polish chicken
potager
Recipes
rooster
Sarah
seasons
snow
Sophie
spring
T. Boone Chickens
Vegetables
winter
wisteria
Beautiful–and very inspiring!
How do you keep deer from devouring your tulips? I’ve lost this battle two years running…
thanks so much for your encouraging posts; i think of them when i am gardening:)
Hi Faye,
Thank you for the kind comment. The tulips are insight the enclosed garden. Now, the deer could easily step right over the fence to eat the tulips. But they don’t! The only thing I’ve been able to conclude is that by the time something is growing in the garden worth eating, there is so much other food available in the surrounding woods that the deer aren’t tempted. I can’t think of any other reason they don’t bother the garden at all.
Robin Ripley
Isn’t it amazing how we go through the same cycles every year. I always get burnt out and wonder if I have lost my passion for gardening when all of a sudden nature responds and that wonderful feeling of fulfillment returns!
.-= Sheila´s last blog ..Angel Trumpet Tree? =-.
It’s good to see the return of spring and flowers after that burial by snow your garden went through.
.-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Anemonella thalictroides =-.
Our garlic is up, too. I wonder how it does with unexpected (from the garlic’s point of view) frosts and freezes? We’ll find out! Lovely double hellebore . . .
.-= Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog ..Seed-Starting: Online Help =-.
I always feel the same way too Robin. So much to do and so little time, and then nature starts to surprise me all over again. Beautiful photos, by the way, and don’t those daffs look like pearls against the earth?~~Dee
.-= Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings´s last blog ..Oh hail! =-.
Oh I thought those first flowers were going to be double columbines. Do you happen to know if there is any garlic you can plant in the spring??
.-= Karen´s last blog ..Go Rockies!!! =-.
I’m so glad things are looking so happy in your garden Robin. Spring has definitely arrived there!
.-= Leslie´s last blog ..Ready, Set…Wait =-.
Mother nature does come to the rescue in the Spring with lovely gifts. Lovely garden.
Simply beautiful. Quite an inspiration for all gardeners, patience.
.-= Belle´s last blog ..Belle: Add Water to your Garden =-.
We’re not at the pretty phase yet, still too much snow. I guess I’d better prepare for my boohoo phase, which will shortly be upon me. Glad your garden is starting to green up.
Christine in Alaska
I’m not at the pretty phase yet either, but the few daffs I have tell me it won’t be long.
.-= commonweeder´s last blog ..Mark Your Calendars =-.
Oh god it’s looking gorgeous! No boo-hoo! 🙂
So pretty! Your garden photos are my favorites.
I love seeing your flowers and gardening — so much prettier than mine! And your Lenten Roses (hellebores) are gorgeous! Mine are all singles in white, pink, and deep maroon, but the doubles are really wonderful.
.-= Ann´s last blog ..Hello, I’m Back — Again! Lent, Easter, & Related Topics =-.
It is like tiny little gifts isn’t it. Love your tulip planter. And also, funny enough, I too have garlic coming up, only difference is – I didn’t plant any last year. Planted 2 years ago and must have left some behind.
.-= Annelie´s last blog ..Tickled Pink =-.
I soo know how you feel! There is that point in spring where I just don’t think I can do it all. But things do start coming up and hope springs eternal! I love your blog and can’t wait to hear about the chickens and your garden. Thanks for sharing.
Kay
I felt the same this weekend. I put on my ‘big girl panties’ and got to it. It is the small wonders which keep us going though.
Pretty? I’d say gorgeous! But I do know what you mean. I’ve been overwhelmed as well but finally I feel I’m getting things under control. Except for the weeds in the lawn – but our mower just came back from the shop today, yay!
.-= Jean´s last blog ..Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch… =-.
Those hellebores are gorgeous, and I LOVE your daffodil glade.
.-= Sarah from Toronto Gardens´s last blog ..How to tame a rambunctious Rosa =-.
Robin, you’ve inspired me! I bought my first hellebores and am so excited to see it bloom…. in a couple of years. It’ll be worth it.
i love how you said this – that’s just how it is every spring!
.-= Daricia´s last blog ..Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ =-.
That Helleborus is a stunner!
.-= Karyl´s last blog ..Raising the Bat House =-.
What a lovely blog with beautiful pics. Enjoyed it. Looking forward to checking out your chicken posts.
.-= Debra Howard´s last blog ..Spring Time Blooms =-.
Oh, Robin, I know whereof you speak! As beautiful as my back garden has been this spring, I have frequent moments of despair over the conditions in the front garden. When I feel overwhelmed, I have to remind myself that it’s better to do even a little bit than to stand around wringing my hands and lamenting to myself!