Getting Edgy

No, this isn't a post about Bernie and Hillary, although the title fits them too.

It is that season when it is time to re-cut the lawn edges and spruce everything up. In our yard, that is a big job. 

I started early in the week by removing a foot of sod to widen this bed, where we planted hosta a few years ago and they need room to spread out. 

Then when Tom was trying to get that darn chainsaw to start on Wednesday, I got a start on cutting new edges. 

The bonsai benches await moving the bonsai trees from under cover out to the open and getting then hooked up to their drip system. That's the next job. 

Then yesterday, Thursday, while Tom was doing other chores, I set out to finish the edging job. I use a half round step on edging tool to cut, and then go hands and knees with  trowel and a bucket to remove grass and roots and weeds along the edges. 

 I found the first columbine already in bloom. One thing about doing this kind of work is that you get down and up close with all of the new things popping out of the ground. 

 I was getting very tired by the time I got to this island bed in the lower yard, having made it all the way around the perimeter. Fortunately Tom came to help me and met me half way. 

 And then we were done! It was 75 degrees as we finished by 1:30, time to clean up, eat lunch on the patio, and take it easy for the rest of the day. 

In the late afternoon I went out to take these photos and just appreciate how good everything looks when it is cleaned up and crisp. 

 I found one of the espaliered apple trees in bloom. 

 It has been a very good year for camellias. This light pink bloomer is loaded, and even has a few much brighter blooms that stand out in the crowd. The leaves are covered with tree pollen, which is everywhere. It has been a good year for pollen too. Achoo. 

 Some lush growth pops out early, always such a wonder as they emerge from bare earth. This hosta is already unfurling as others are just showing spikes.

And the first clump of trillium has gone from white to brilliant purple, wanting to show off as long as it can. 

As we enter the weekend, we will be doing some family things and hopefully a lot less hard work for a few days. But although our garden takes a lot of work, we love the results. 

Happy gardening to all of you who partake. For those who don't, go find someone else's handiwork to admire. It's lovely, wonderful spring!