Once Christmas is over, I am ready for winter to be over. After the Christmas lights and decorations are (mostly) put away, it’s just cold and gray. The winter blues really set in.
I know spending time outside in the sunlight, even when it’s
cold, really helps, but I struggle to make myself spend time outside this time
of year.
I really hate to be cold.
This year, though, to make spending time outside in the
cold weather a little more pleasant, I’ve decided to focus on yard/garden
chores I can do in the cold weather. It makes
it seem like spring isn’t quite so far away.
It seems like there are always things to do in the
yard/garden, and I want to make it as beautiful as possible. So, getting started on things now makes sense
in addition to getting me outside in the sunshine (even when it’s cold).
Last week, Nick and I did a lot of pruning/trimming and
general yard pick-up. I forgot to take
any progress pictures.
This week, I decided to prune the hydrangea that had grown
out of control. This is the ideal time
of year to prune hydrangeas, anyway, so it was the perfect cold-weather yard task
to tackle after work today.
Here’s the before.
I told you it had grown out of control.
I also trimmed the holly bush next to the hydrangea. It was out of control, too, and I needed space
to get behind the hydrangea to get the back of it. I’m not sure if this is the right time of
year to trim the holly bush, but I don’t especially like it, so I’m not really concerned.
I eventually want to get rid of it and replace
it with a camellia.
This was my first pile of branches to haul away. I ended up hauling away six wheelbarrows of
branches.
Here’s the after.
I still need to do some more trimming, but it was getting
dark, so I called it a day.
One day closer to spring!
Do you have any cold-weather projects you're working on?
I absolutely hate being outside in the cold. One of my friends wants to walk tomorrow and I don't know if I can do it. I might suggest heading to a mall!
ReplyDeleteMy projects are inside these days. I admire your courage to tackle an outside task in the winter! It looks great!
ReplyDeleteWe still have snow, gardening and outdoor projects are but a dream. You have been busy and it all looks great!
ReplyDeleteOne day closer to spring - I like that. Good for you for finding a productive way to "make" yourself go outside.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem getting outside when it's cold. You're further south than we are, so our major spring pruning shouldn't be done for another month or so. However, we are having a milder day today, so we went out and looked at the dimensions that we might want to expand our vegetable garden to and more specifically, how much of a deer fence do we want to put up.
ReplyDeleteBless your heart for your positive thinking and for getting yourself outdoors. Here, my mom and dad are so miserable with the cold and with PA in general that they have no motivation to do anything, inside or out. Makes them a joy to be around. Don't get me wrong- when we lived down in your neck of the woods, they both loved being/working outdoors, mowing, pruning & trimming, manning the fire pit and brush cleanup, etc.
ReplyDeleteNice work. It's easier to do heavy labor when it's cold. You don't get all sweaty. (And I will definitely not tell you what our weather was today.)
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Danielle and Nick! We are So not fans of being out in the cold. Can we just start spring now? LOL
ReplyDelete