Ready for Spring!

This has been a very cold and wet winter and I am ready for spring. We have had a few sunny days that remind us of the beautiful weather that will be here soon. Spent Saturday on the deck in the sunshine. Some of the early spring flowers are coming up. The hellebores were late this year. They usually appear in late January but were a month late this winter. They are such a welcome sight in the middle of a dreary, grey day. Also the slugs don't seem to like them, so that is a plus. I have spent a fortune on hostas which get devoured by the slugs. So the few I have now are in pots.
Some spring projects have begun. We have had Kelly and his boys over a number of times to work on different projects including repairing the back porch. Now it has a new roof and stairs. Clean up of the recycle bags. We are good about dividing our recycling items. The difficulty is getting them over to the mainland and down to the recycle center. There isn't any recycling in Egmont, except for cans and bottles at the community hall. So that has always been an issue. We have a whole season's worth of recycling and the boys are hauling it out slowly but surely.
We have purchased some more water pipe and hope to have a dedicated 2" pipe for the hydro. A few hundred more feet to go. One big problem with our water pipe is that it travels over logs, rocks and rough terrain to get from the creek to our house. This means dips and low parts that either freeze in winter or eventually gather sand and rocks that block the water flow. We hope to remedy that this year by tying up these sections to make the pipe more level.
Another project is the garden. I haven't gardened much the past couple of years, but intend to get back into it this year. The beds need amending and the grow boxes need some repair. One of the problems here is lack of sunshine because of the large trees. The only truly sunny place is the swest side which is on the rock bank above the dock. Years ago my son Mason and I constructed tiered growing boxes along the rock bank. They are in need of repair now. I will get to it. Growing herbs and salad greens along with some peas and beans isn't too difficult once the boxes and planters are set up. Planting time is fast approaching. So I have gotten out the seed packets: peas, onions, lettuce, chard, carrots will go in first.

After a couple of trips south, we are hopefully home to stay for a while. You know spring is really here, but the still cold winds that keep coming our way keeps you confused. The animals are rustling about. Saw our first hummingbirds last week and now have two feeders going with at least six hummers arguing over the nectar.

I have seen signs of herring and the birds and seals are active, so there has to be salmon. We are doing well on prawns. Have to get some in the freezer before the commercial guys come in next month. They will take all the prawns for a month or so. Our four pots can't compete with their forty on a string.

We also have a mink coming on the back porch. He has found the cat door and the cat's food. Starting to be a nuisance, so we put out the live trap. We will relocate him further down the inlet.
He's a beautiful chocolate brown and about 2 feet long. Would love to get a picture, but he moves too fast.

Here is my spring poem:

You Know It’s Spring at Jervis Inlet When…………

You Know It’s Spring at Jervis Inlet

When the daffodils bloom in the garden.

When you don’t need to start a fire in the morning.

When the hummingbirds return and fight over the feeders.

When the frogs emerge at the pond and croak their mating songs.

When the wild currant bushes bloom their bright, hot pink flowers.

When the merganser family returns and begins nesting.

When you can see the gray rock through the snow on Mt. Churchill.

When the slugs are back in the garden.

When the cruise boats return to head up the Inlet to Princess Louisa.

When our traps are full of large, plump prawns.

When the eagles perch once again on their favorite tree.

When the dog wants to spend the night outside.

When you have to change to a short-sleeved shirt in the afternoon.

When friends come and visit because it is a perfect boating day.

When you quit working and just spend some time on the deck soaking up the warm rays of the sun!

BDSaunders 2004