Weed Woes and Spring Smiles

February is gone.  March marches on.  (Hey, that rhymes!)

I'm hoping March will be a glorious month!  But it's time to look back at February and see what was the Best and the Worst in my garden.

Worst is definitely the weeds, which are everywhere!

Weeds almost as big as the boxwood!

They had very little resistance from Old Man Winter, so they grew prolifically and joyfully.  Which doesn't exactly make me joyful.  And the worst part is they're already flowering!  Supposedly, one year's seeding makes seven years' weeding.  Guess I'll be busy for the next seven years!

Well, forget the weeds.  What's the Best?

Iris, violet and camellia blooms

Blooms, blooms, glorious blooms!  My irises started blooming.  The crocus began to bloom.

Delightful daffodils

Spring bulbs have made their appearance.  Even one of my roses decided to bloom early!

Mexican Grey Hairstreak - So exciting to see butterflies in my garden already!

Not only blooms, but bugs, bees, and even butterflies have started making their appearance.  Spring is here, and my garden is waking up.  What could be better than that?

I'm joining Bumble Lush's Best and Worst of the garden meme.

Best and Worst - Jan 2012

Those turtlenecks I purchased to wear this winter were a total waste.  Of course, the reason I haven't been able to wear them is because it's been too hot to wear turtlenecks in the 60 and 70 degree weather we've been having here.

But I'm not complaining.  I love this weather because it's the perfect weather to work out in the garden!

Mulching the garden is my main focus.  I didn't completely finish mulching this past fall, and I can certainly tell by the amount of weeds that have popped up where I didn't put down mulch.  That is a powerful argument for mulching the garden in the fall (the entire garden).

But while I've been doing that, I've noticed some wonderful things (the little joys are THE BEST):

Do you see this little bee?  Look how big her pollen sacs are!  She's been busy!

And this plant - do you know what this is?  It's a flowering quince (Chaenomeles).  Poor thing.  I planted it last year and then never saw it again.  It's behind the pavonias, and they complete covered it!  I really thought it was dead.  It was so exciting to find it when I was cleaning up the garden.  Now I can't wait for it to bloom!

Bad picture, but if you look closely, you'll see a little papyrus.  I rooted it last fall, and I am thrilled to see that it is still alive.

All these surprises are the best!

What's THE WORST?  The weeds, of course.

They are everywhere!  But I'm determined to pull them all out.  Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Wish me luck!

I'm joining Bumble Lush Kitchen Garden for her Best and Worst meme.  I'd love to see what's best and worst in your garden!