Progress of spring: us working hard, nature working hard.

The last two weekends we managed to do something we have never accomplished before. Right on time we did all the steps of spring lawn maintenance that you're supposed to do. Usually we start out full of good intentions, but somehow never quite finish it. This year we started to rake two weeks ago when it was finally dry enough to do so. In total we raked eight of those huge lawn waste bags of thatch out of the lawn. The photographer got ugly bleeding blisters that have just now closed.

After that was finished last weekend we did the (organic) fertilizing, over-seeding, and peat pellet treatments. One week later, we have an actual green lawn! (Well....mostly....where the grubs are/were, it is still pretty yellow.)

As soon as we were done, the city of Ottawa imposed an outdoor water ban for the entire summer. You cannot  water the lawn, water the plants, wash your car or fill the pool if you have one. They are replacing a water main, and we are temporarily connected to a different reservoir of much less capacity. We'll have to enjoy the green lawn while we still have it.......bummer.

The perennials have started to emerge, and it doesn't look like we lost anything this winter. A new layer of mulch makes it all look very fresh. Despite the fact that black mulch seems to be the thing to buy at this point, I still prefer the red mulch.

Re-emerging plants. The hydrangea is fine, tiny buds are in there

The theme in Ottawa at this time of year is tulips, and of course we have some in he garden too. They are going to be in bloom soon. Squirrels have buried some bulbs from someone else's yard in another flower bed in our yard,so it looks like we will have random extra ones in odd spots.

Next to the emerging tulips, the daffodils are pretty well finished.

 Brand new maple leaves that were not there two days ago.

After all the work was done for now, we took our bikes and went for a ride in the area to enjoy the new green things. The abandoned house stands in stark worn contrast to the tiny new green leaves colouring the trees around it.

For a moment I forgot how early in the season it still is. The parking lot for the recreation area is still closed, but that doesn't seem to stop anyone. There are several cars parked right up against the wooden barriers, and people are pick-nicking on the water's edge at the locks, despite the fact that it is only 15 degrees.

In town, the water in the canal has been raised to summer levels, and the tulip festival kicked off this week. But here the level is still low and the barrier keeping the water out of the lock is still in place.

Seriously, did they have plastic sheeting in 1830?

The docks are still in the empty locks, waiting to be floated out.

The canal will open to boaters on May 20th, so no doubt the lockmaster's house will open soon, and the docks will be floated out of the locks to where they belong.

  

At the speed everything is going now, that tree will also be green by next week end.