JoAnne Skelly
Who would have thought that raking and cleaning old iris leaves out of flower gardens could be so rewarding? Probably any gardener out there getting a chance to work in the yard on a sunny spring day would think so.
I go out in the morning and then have trouble coming back inside. It’s so beautiful out. Besides, raking is a gardening chore I thoroughly enjoy — it’s picking up the piles that is the yucky part. The daffodils are blooming with their happy spring color.
So are the grape hyacinth. The crocosmia buds are poking up through the ground. The crabapples are showing pink, but haven’t quite opened, not like in Reno where the flowering trees are in full flower.
While the forsythia is also in full color in Reno, I barely see any color yet on our shrub. The apple tree buds are starting to show color. Their delayed bloom is probably a good thing to avoid any late freeze damage to the flowers, which could certainly harm eventual fruit production.
My friend Diane gave me a number of variegated ‘Blue Flag’ irises last year. They were completely pot bound, and I wasn’t sure if they would survive transplanting. They did! They are another wonderful spring surprise because they are thriving.
Their variegated leaves add a whole new level of interest to my flower beds. Even though winter was not severe, for some reason I am really embracing spring this year. The grass is greening up.
The willows and cottonwoods are in full flower, and even their mess on the patio doesn’t dampen my spirits. That will probably happen when the cotton starts to fall. We turned on the water and brought out the hoses for hand watering.
Next, we will turn on the in-ground irrigation system and the drip systems, fixing any leaks and changing out all the clogged emitters. In the meantime, I’ve been happily dragging hoses to water my flowers.
I have always liked the Zen of hand watering. It lets me visit with all my returning friends. In between waterings, I used my hedge trimmer to cut back Russian sage, old sedum and yarrow flowers, and old catmint stems.
And every day I rake. I know if my once-a-year garden crew doesn’t come soon, I will also have to pick up the darn piles! Right now, I don’t mind the work, but I expect it will wear thin fairly soon. In the meantime, my flower beds look good.
JoAnne Skelly is Associate Professor & Extension Educator Emerita University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Email skellyj@unr.edu.