Spring Is Coming

Here are some random pictures I have taken that document the coming of spring - PROOF that greener days are right around the corner, right?

Serpentine Weeping Cherry Blossoms

Red and White Creeping Thyme

A little joy on a sunny day

Hinnomaki Red Gooseberry

Tulips nearly in bloom

 

 

Violet begging for a bone

Serpentine Weeping Cherry in the background. New blue strawberry planter with bird bath on top. Creeping Jenny growing in the pot (instead of strawberries)

Peach Blossom

Aoba Jo Japanese Maple

Katsura Japanese Maple

Rain Chain Fix

So we had a problem with the rain chain set up. I was having the rain chain drain into a large container but it wasn't draining very well. Observe:

So I used this opportunity to buy a new pot and try to fix a few things to help it drain better. I chose a pretty purple pot, nice and tall, and chose lava rock as it is porous and drains water easily.

 

After filling the pot 1/4th of the way with rock, we cut some landscape fabric to fit the pot and make a divider. We glued it with caulk and once it was dried I filled up one half with more rock and the other half with potting soil. The landscape fabric will allow communication between the two sides so water can move freely to whatever side it is needed.

Planted! 'Zig Zag' Camellia with vinca minor around it.

Now all we need is some rain to try it out! ;)

Garden Update - Water Fountain & Hummingbird Feeder

Back in February we picked up a water fountain piece from the Seattle Flower and Garden show. We already had the pot, we just needed the piece to make the water flow all pretty. Took a while but we finally have it set up!

The girls supervised the filling process

The piece itself is hand blown glass with a little floaty ball on top.  The pipe is copper which is poisonous to fish so we will not have any fish in this bowl. It's here for the sight and sounds only.

A little video action:


We also picked up a pretty glass hummingbird feeder. I have another one on the way because I found it to be so pretty. I've made my own nectar (4:1 water/sugar) and now all I need are some hummingbirds and I'm set.

We set it up on the pergola

Sadie Update

Yesterday Sadie had her staples removed! it's been a rough two weeks convincing Sadie she shouldn't be her usual crazy self - please respect the staples, ok? Now that the staples are gone she'll have her first agility practice (since the incident) on Wednesday, then Flyball on Sunday. Her first practice back with each will be easy so we can work her slowly back into it.

I think she's a little frustrated though. At dinner with the in-laws Sadie was oddly grumpy towards their dog, Puppy, who is a harmless white fluff ball - and quite elderly to boot so her snark was really unfair against the poor guy. I can only assume she has just too much pent up energy and frustration over this whole thing and she expressed it by being a bitch. I'm hoping in a couple more weeks we'll have Sadie's energy level notched back down to normal levels.

Staples still in, Sadie is telling Rob off for not throwing the ball that she placed so carefully between his feet

Last picture of her abdomen taken right before I took her to the vet to have them removed

All gone!

 

After the removal Sadie spent some time in the sun tanning her belly

Now we can get back to our normal lives. Sadie needs to be run stupid for a few days though. I'm going to work her brain hard with obedience and then run her ragged with the ball. Nothing better in life than a dog who is both mentally and physically exhausted.