
I love the four seasons, and after my 23rd winter her in the WI Northwoods, I am looking forward to the arrival of spring. The birch trees are wonderful against the blue sky but I don’t see leaf buds yet, on the birches, they are often the last of the trees to leaf out.

Today there was not a lot of snow left in the garden, and we are looking forward to removing any remaining weeds, and northwoods plants. I’ll be watching to see if the herbs survived the winter, and for the rhubarb to appear.

Earlier this week I came outside to find Char re-purposing the poles from an old art show tent into a homemade greenhouse. She will finish it soon, and a neighbor is giving us some greenhouse plastic to cover it with. Char will build bench/tables for inside. We’re looking forward to giving this a try. After the remaining snow melts and we level the ground, it will be moved back a bit further, closer to the “back” gate.

We will have access to the greenhouse from the path leading to the shed, and through the back gate when working in the garden.

We planted a few herbs along and inside the garden fence last year. I spotted this bit of green today, and am so looking forward to see which plants survived the winter, hopefully all of them.
A year ago we started seeds in the basement, but they didn’t turn out as well as we’d hoped. We may try it again, to get things started, then when it warms up enough, move them to the greenhouse where they will have plenty of natural light, and more warmth than they would have in the basement.

Normally, any apples left on the tree would drop to the ground in fall or in early winter. This year, many of them have hung on, and they will be collected and taken out to the compost pile soon. I’m a bit worried about the roots being so near the septic tank/system, and it is likely this apple tree will be taken down, and a couple new ones planted further away. This tree has never been a big producer, though it is at least 14 years old. The herbs and plants will be removed and the fence taken down, to make mowing this side yard easier.

Late this afternoon, I could see just a bit of water around the edge of the lake. I’m really looking forward to open water, and the sight of loons, ducks, geese, ospreys and eagles enjoying the area. Something else to look forward to are the first sounds of spring peepers, then the nightly frog chorus, then loons, and in June, the return of the Whippoorwill making his nightly rounds around the house and area nearby.

A friend spotted this scrap of wood near the house, and I try to keep it sitting on the end of a log on the house. Wind and squirrels frequently knock it to the ground. Standing up, if the right hand end hadn’t been cut off, I’d “see” a howling wolf. My daughter, however, see a snapping turtle when it is viewed horizontal as shown above. Living in a log home, with all ceilings, walls, and floors wood, you get used to “seeing” pictures in the knotholes. I’ll have to post a few of them someday.

We still have several loggers cords of wood left to cut, split, and stack, which will provide us with good, dry wood for next winter. Meanwhile, I hope to get another 12 loggers cords of wood to have on hand, and have time to dry for the following winter(s). Lots of work to do this spring/summer/fall!

As happens every year, the driveway and private road have had large areas of water from snow melt. Driving over those areas creates muddy ruts, hard on cars, drivers, and passengers. When things dry up, I’ll have someone come in (again) and do some grading.

Badger is waiting for the remaining snow to melt, as we all are. However, WeatherBug has a winter advisory warning up tonight from later tomorrow Tuesday through Wednesday AM, 3″ to 5″ of new snow possible, along with sleet and freezing rain. Nope, it’s not spring yet.
So, instead of an early start on gardening, I’ll continue weaving, preparing new work for the gallery, an art show, and the summer and fall art tours. It’s going to be another busy year, “up north.”