Progress on two fronts

Front #1: The lawns and gardens

Spring is finally "springing" around here, albeit, perhaps, reluctantly.

Actually, the forsythia seems a bit early this year. Why, I don't know. It's now shedding its blossoms and sprouting new leaves.

The daffodils are finally blooming, despite being buried in a late snowfall not too long ago. For awhile I feared it wouldn't bloom at all this year. Daffodils are resilient, for sure.

I checked out the lilac bushes this morning and even tried to get a photo of the buds. No luck with the photo, but the buds are developing. Typically the lilacs are in bloom around May 20-ish.

One patch of primrose has been in bloom for a week now. Another patch, planted near the kitchen window, is a no-show this year. I suspect the %#*^$%# moles got it during winter. We have a serious mole problem on our front lawn. They probably feasted on the roots of the primrose while the snow covered the ground.

(Does anyone know a sure-bet yet humane way to get rid of moles?)

Ken put up the wind spinner yesterday. We received this as a gift this past Christmas, and I've been eager to see it installed in the rock garden, doing its thing. It was quick and easy to install, and Ken pointed out that if we decide to change its location, it'll be easy enough to do that.

Right now it seems to be getting plenty of breeze to keep it twirling.

My seedlings are showing progress. I began moving them outside last week. I store them in the garage each evening, because the nights are still chilly.

I've got butternut squash, cucumbers, zucchinis, green peppers, morning glories, basil and even a mandevilla plant that I managed to keep for the winter in the house, then root a cutting from this spring. Once the gardening centers open, I'll be buying 18 tomato plants and a few more green pepper plants. I'll probably get some kale, too. We enjoy the nice, tender kale in our tossed salads. It's much better than the supermarket kale we sometimes have in the winter.

Front #2: The knitting front 

The Potter's Shawl is coming along well. I'm still on the garter stitch section, with a M1L and M1R every fourth row, but it's pretty much mindless knitting so far.

Things might get a little dicey when I move on to the edging. Time will tell.

So that's what's going on in my neck of the woods in late April.