This aint no country yard

Ever heard the saying,...

"Making a mountain out of a mole hill"?

Moles tunnel beneath the earth. A surface opening to a tunnel is often marked by a little pile of earth, a molehill.

A molehill is not very large, but it is shaped like a mountain. A person who makes a big fuss over a small matter is said to be making a mountain out of a molehill

Well that's all fine, but this is a mountain to me.... I'm trying not to go overboard and whine & cry about it but my beautiful yard is being butchered by a little critter called a mole.

Even my neighbor man understands the gravity of a mole in a lush green yard. Here he is attempting to put a pitchfork in the little menace, I'm pretty sure he missed , or else there's more than one of them.

In which case I've stepped it up and made a visit to Ace hardware today, I purchase this bag of MOLEMAX

Which will hopefully take care of this ridiculous rat

This mole has created a mountain in my mind, It's not a small thing to me no matter what that old cliche' says.

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So despite my sad yard issue i still have my pretty little asters which are just beginning to bloom :)

Colors of spring

I was out and about today for a bit with my friend Valerie, we were admiring the beautiful trees around the NW neighborhood. The pictures just really cant do it justice

I've been facsinated this spring with the beautiful foliage and how amazing the yards are already looking. Everything seemed to be more colorful, more vivid, more full and just more lovely than any spring I can remember. I'm sure it's the weather, it's just been warmer earlier and we didnt get that snow after the plants had already started blooming, like we do most years.

Ya had to be there.... so pretty

So many colors, and the smell...oh the smell, yummy

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I have never had columbine this large before...this is my shade garden out back and I have a beautifully large crop this year

Here's my Jack in a pulpit and my lily of the valley

nearly ready to bloom.

and did I mention that I love my backyard...

the pine trees give us a nice border in the back and

the grass came back so healthy and plush

Around the house

Springs a blooming at the Hemmer house

One of my favorite flowers/plant in my yard is my Cushion Spurge.

It's always in full bloom in mid-april and stays that way for several weeks.

I love the vivid yellow flowers and it's such a perfect shape.

I split it about every 3 years cuz it gets so big.

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Then there's my little Vinca Vine that sprouted itself up next to the house about 5 yrs ago. I didnt plant it and actually I thought that plant was an annual, but it always comes back every spring. I love the pretty little purple flowers, it just adds a nice little touch in the spring.

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Hybrids (beasty dandelions)

I've collected my annual "bucket-full" of dandelions this spring and I have to tell you. They are gigantic this year.... Hybrids ! They are very large with many yellow flowers on each root.

I love the sound of the "POP" when I dig them up...it's just so satisfying.

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I will not let those little devils attack my yard, and I'm lucky enough to have been able to keep up on them since we sodded this yard 23 years ago.

It's managable with a city lot...not too big,

but big enough to have to work at it.