I do not have your excuse, but with this warm weather I did finally start on the roses, and yesterday did my 3 large hydrangeas - I was so late getting to them that some of the buds had started to bloom!

I am sorry about the work in your garden, but it sounds as if it could have been a lot worse. Like your attitude - thinking of it as an opportunity!

Jackie

That is wonderful that the workmen were so considerate. What a blessing when you really needed it!

It's great when the workmen do a good job. They deserve valentines. Good luck with your pruning.

Sorry about your sewer problems, Rosefolly, but hearing about pruning right now makes me envious. But it also does give me hope that spring will eventually come!

We are headed down to Las Pilitas Nursery shortly to get a few more plants to fill in the gaps. I am feeling good about this work, even as it is exhausting due to the steep slope. Oaks, hollyleaf cherry, ceanothus, manzanitas, and even a few sages. Today I removed some of the juvenile growth from oak trees I planted several years ago, and paused briefly to mourn the loss of a pine that didn't make it. Ah well, most of the plants do!

And in a week or two I can finish the roses. They will still be there.

I am ready to prune and fertilize this weekend! I bought new pruners and have my alfalfa meal so I am ready to roll lol.

Tom and I got some lovely plants at Las Pilitas, ceanothus, manzanitas, ribes, and foothill pines (pinus sabiniana) I could not find closer to home. I am busy planting former rose beds with mainly California native plants. Of course the beds close to the house are still in the English style, roses with perennials and the bulbs, with Mediterranean and native beds further away. I am liking the garden better. The drought pushed the change, but it is actually an improvement in my sincere opinion. My hope is that the work will gradually be less, though I am not confident about that part of it. All gardens require maintenance.

That sounds wonderful! Making the best of the work and constantly evolving your garden is really inspiring to hear. I'm also in the process of trying to plant more CA natives during this drought, though I do love all the roses and last year it was especially sad to see them struggle through the burning hot days.

I'm with Seil ... all this talk of planting and pruning and visits to a nursery have me in a hopeful mood ... as I watch the snow fall. It's good to hear that your drain work and your drought-induced modifications have made your garden better.

Taking a break from all that planting to work on the fence roses. They are getting ready to burst into bloom so I want them to be weeded and trained before that happens. Probably won't be able to spray, and a couple could have used it , Climbing Devoniensis for one. Suspicious dark spots on the canes. I may strip and spray once the flush is over.

My pruning got put "on hold" as well; the d##n badgers have become active again and so I had to leave it half-way done and work on the supplement to the garden fence. I'm making a sort of "apron" all around the base of rabbit fencing wire...a huge job...

I'm glad you are able to save most of your plants and have a brand new sewer which will be good for many many years. My father lived on a hill and his sewer pipe had a crack in it next to which grew the most wondrous assortment of heirloom tomatoes. Seedlings from the tomatoes I used to supply him with ;).