First Signs of Spring in Lucinda's Garden

What a day today! Temps reached 70 degrees. Spring has been a long time coming this year! However it has been perfect weather for maple sugaring. Last year the season only lasted a couple of weeks because the temperatures were too warm too fast.
To catch up:
The first crocus emerged and started blooming at the end of March.

Crocus blooming in back perennial garden on March 30th

Then we had the obligatory April Fool's Day Blizzard but it wasn't as bad as predicted. (One foot was predicted but I only got about three inches of wet snow here.)

By April 3rd the snow was all gone and the crocus were in full glory.

I started to do some spring clean up and noticed that the voles had yet again destroyed my rhubarb. There are a few shoots left so it may survive but I won't be able to pick it again for three years while it gets its strength back. @#$%& voles!

The hellebores and daffodils are coming up in the St. Francis Garden.

Unfortunately the voles killed my Knockout Rose Bush. (Sad) Good news is I now have four or five baby forsythia bushes to transplant or give away (new plants start where branches touch the ground).

Hellebore (Lenten Rose)

This is what the front perennial border looked like on April 3rd.

Voles killed two geraniums for sure. The third may survive. They tried really hard to kill the Sedum "Autumn Joy" but the five pieces they left can now be transplanted or given away (it lives!)

The male and female hollies both survived.

Site of future Japanese Garden. Voles tried to kill the bamboo I planted this year. I don't know yet if it will make it. If it doesn't there's another $75 down the drain!

Only one of many crocus bulbs I planted survived the voles. They don't like daffodils.

Here is the back perennial garden on April 3rd (partially cleaned up)

The forget-me-nots and foxgloves in this corner are now self-seeding. Yay!

Not cleaned up yet (obviously). My grandmother's blue flag iris need to be divided this year.

Crocus in bloom.

Echinaceas (Coneflowers of various colors) are here.

Daffodils, daylilies, bluestar, alliums (which mysteriously disappeared last year but are coming back this year), and peony are here. Added last year in the fall on the left is a rose campion I got on sale. White stuff is wood ash from the wood stove.

Creeping golden oregano must be divided this year. I'm going to have so much stuff to take to the plant swap!

Sunken garden definitely needs work this year. The butterfly bush must be moved because it is too big for the space it is in. My plan is to transplant it near the end of the deck where the deceased oakleaf hydrangea (killed by the winter of 2010-11!) used to be (to the right of the wysteria). This will also help to cover up the end of the raised bed planter I am having constructed along with some steps to finish off the lower edge of the deck.

Butterfly bush in the corner must be moved. The Korean spice bush just to its left will stay. Also to be divided: the ornamental grass. The Joe Pye Weed and Queen of the Prairie must go! Hosta "Big Blue" must be moved to between Korean Spice bush and the wysteria. Valerian must be moved to the herb garden. The four astilbes all need dividing. So much gardening to do! How much will I get done this year?! Only time will tell!

Raised bed planter and steps will be constructed along this lower edge of the deck and stepping stones will tie together the steps and the entrance (sliders) to the lower level of the house. I've had three different contractors out to look at it and give estimates. This project will finish the landscaping around the house (finally!).

Raised bed planter and steps will be constructed along this edge.