spring clean-up!

I'm so flippin' excited that spring is nearly here!  And if you know me, I don't get excited about a whole lot, especially if it involves manual labor, so this is HUGE!

I spent about an hour outside this morning cleaning up our landscaping, which was in sad, sad shape.  I didn't get around to cleaning up everything before winter hit, and then winter was just really rough on everything.

I did appreciate that there have maybe been four "warm" days this entire year and I've already got weeds sprouting up.

I think a snow shovel took out one of our lanterns.

It's just pathetic.

The world's largest chunk of grass sprouted up in the landscaping around our tree.  I had also intended to rip up the hostas, but couldn't find them in all the muck.

Then I decided that I hated that landscaping timber around the tree, so we took that out.  Much, much better.

I ripped up some of the black landscaping fabric.  I know people say you should really use that stuff to prevent weeds, but I'm not sold on it.  Too many weeds grow in it.  I'll probably rip up the remaining stuff I come across, but didn't want to risk pulling up any of my perennials.

I even found some green popping up -- and it wasn't a weed!

We pulled up all of our lanterns.  The solar lights just didn't work so well on the north side of our house.  So we might put them out back.  But that's also Henry's territory, so they may not last back there either.

I pulled up our four bushes out front and then split some of our flowers.  Fingers crossed they survive the move.  I puttered out before I got to the rose bushes (I am on vacation after all...sort of), so I'll have to hit those up another day.

I'm headed to the Flower & Patio Show tomorrow, so I'm hoping to pick up some good ideas there too.  Happy spring, everyone!