Vestiges and Harbingers or What a Difference a Week Makes

It's Sunday morning and the hawks are screeching, trying to flush out their prey. It freaks me out, but I understand everybody has to eat. Today promises to be another mild day. We reached 66 on Friday, 74 yesterday, and currently it is 71 at 12:00 noon. What a difference a week makes as this time last Sunday, we prepared for our second and probable final snow event. I took this today. Notice my glass of iced tea! Also, take a quick look at the photo of the same spot last week in my previous post.

We worked outside yesterday, cutting to the ground the irises, liriope, monarda, and lythrum. I cut back most of my roses and look like I got into a tussle with a big cat and lost -- my hands and wrists were perfectly protected, but the thorns did a number on my arms! Beau, our nextdoor neighbor's Golden, helps me whenever I work in the rose garden. He's good company.

I've decided whatever roses we lost this year, I will replace with "Double Knockouts" as they are extremely hearty, fragrant, and gorgeous. They are resistant to black spot, pests, and don't need the full six hours + of sun that other roses require.

My perennials are 'popping through' already -- daffodils, hyacinths, of course, but surprisingly the shasta daisies, day lilies, liatris, peonies and sedum have already broken the surface. Today, I worked on the beds around the patio, cutting away the old to make room for the new, while Richard cleaned the beds on the other side of the house. Here, the pots await placement throughout the gardens.
It intrigues me that even though I work out five to six hours a week and lift weights in addition, that I could barely move getting out of bed this morning. So now I'm off to soak my tired and sore body and look for the Motrin.