Cottage Life - and the garden. . . . . . . . .

Life continues to remain hectic around the cottage. 
Daily dramas seem omnipresent.
Worrisome news of health problems from across the pond, and me so far away.
Local news revolves around loved ones, family and friends,
also with health issues, and Monday a serious accident where my
 neighbor's son fell 30' from a ladder whilst working. He's already had
three surgeries, and will require more, to repair his shattered leg and ankle.
 We were all sharing Birthday cake and laughter the previous afternoon,
 even warned him to be careful on his ladders in the windy conditions.
Please send good thoughts to Nelson and his family, all of whom
are very kind to us, their elderly neighbors.

Ladders can be monsters!  I never allow Bob on a ladder now unless I am right 
there to steady it and watch where he steps. I don't know if I would ever be able to
 save him in a fall but at least I'd try - and I don't let him climb very high! 

After the rains of Tuesday, the azalea blooms have seen the last of their

 best days - they were really lovely this year. This weekend I will start pruning

them back and fertilizing - this should always be done shortly after blooming

is over as the plant sets buds for next Spring during the Summer.

I do not prune hard or into shaped balls as some people do, and I never

  give the shrub a 'crewcut' with electric clippers. I like my azaleas loose and

natural looking, just keeping the really long branches clipped and tidy.

Daffodils and tulips are finished - bluebells almost over.

I loved all my Spring flowering bulbs.

Sad news - we lost a sweet Mourning dove this week - this one might just be

 its mate as it shows up alone now, whereas our doves are always in pairs as

 they mate for life, usually seven to ten years.

We saw a large hawk zoom downward past the living room window early

 one evening. Rushing to the back door I then saw it fly off with something

 in its talons. Outside on the ground and deck there were a lot of feathers

 which were definitely from a dove.

Another normal occurrence in nature of course, but always so upsetting 

as we really love our garden birds.

Note my fiery red maple tree!  

This remains colorful for a couple of weeks when it first leafs out, as it

is doing now, then it changes, and all Summer it will remain green.

  Come Autumn it will change again, gradually back to a rusty red before the leaves fall.  

I planted this maple several years ago when it just a tiny, very inexpensive,

sapling, never expecting it to grow so tall and full, becoming a lovely 
addition to the front garden.

We're off to the garden center this morning - long list in hand.
Pine straw mulch, fertilzer, seeds for colorful annuals including morning glories
and moon flowers, and herbs such as basil, parsley and chives. . . . . . 
and several other must haves to keep the garden growing.
Weather is perfect for outside work - dry, sunny and still a lovely 
coolness in the air, and for me the most important thing. . . . . . no darned
 biting mosquitoes YET!
See you later, and you know I'll have more to share from the garden.

What's happening in your April garden?