What can you do around your lawn to get ready for the warmer weather?  What will help your grass grow lush and the flowers peak out from their winter snooze-fest?

Perhaps the easiest thing you can do is walk around with a rake and untangle the dead grass that’s knotted up from wind, rain, snow, sleet.  By doing this, nutrients can seep down into the root system allowing your grass to thrive.

Another step is to carefully examine your bushes, shrubbery and trees.  If you see a branches or limbs that are broken, trim them away - and trim closely to the trunk.

Finally, NOW is the time to do some weeding.  They’re dead now so get rid of them before they seed and spread.

Most importantly, enjoy the fresh air that this in-between seasons time brings.  Time to clear your lungs, clear your head, and get your hands dirty!

Photo by Mike Finkelstein via flickr creative commons.

Her yard is one to behold, though.  She and her family have worked hard to build a 12 foot fountain in the front.   In the remainder of the yard, we see her art work on display.  She has a combination of the wood cut outs of old people bent over gardening, Christmas snowmen, penguins, presents, and nativity scenes.  Wooden yard art can be very cute, but then again - everything in moderation is acceptable to me.

My only yard art is the American flag and a cross from Home Interior hanging on my porch.  I was doing a friend a favor by buying it.  I have some flowers and lots of trees.  I’d like to find tree faces to put on my bigger trees someday, but overall unless it’s something grown by mother nature, less is best.

Photo by me.

I think someone ate all my crocuses in the small bed by the creek. I saw them starting to sprout last week, but didn’t see any in there this week. Well, [BLEEPED] that then. I may put some daffodils in there next year, but I’m giving up on crocuses. I also have half a mind to go into the squirrel nests and take bites out of things they like.

B. goes on to ask for advice on what to plant in a wet spot to the north of her driveway. Let us know if you have any gardening suggestions for her!

Photo by Muffet from Flickr Creative Commons.

By the way, had it been me the actual “standing” up would’ve been funnier to see than the rolling around. Funny?  Or sad?

When the weather is bad like it is today I keep an eye out for hikers that are coming through for the day or hiking in to stay in the back country shelter.  When the temperatures are extremely cold it can be really hard on the best hikers.  Most hikers are well prepared and in good shape.  But every now and then I come across someone that needs to come in and warm up and dry out for a bit.

I am also available to the National Park Service to assist with any rescues or searches on Mt. LeConte.  I have helped with two searches this winter.

That’s amazing… to have a mountain top as your back yard.  Stay warm, guys. Stay safe.

… February is designated National Bird Feeding Month because it’s one of the most difficult months in the U.S. for birds to survive in the wild. In mid-Michigan the plants are still dormant and haven’t begun to produce new food for the birds and the bugs are still scarce.

I’m basically a cheap person.  I don’t buy bird seed, sunflower seeds, or other food to feed wild animals.  I’ve always wanted to because it would be as much a treat for me to watch them as it is a food source for the animals.

Instead, I save my leftover bread, the peanuts no one eats from a bag of trail mix, spilled cheerios, crunched up stale crackers … I save all this then throw it on the front lawn during the winter months.  I never throw old apples or pears away either… in the side yard they go for our neighbor’s horses or other wildlife.  Winter is such a hard time for wild animals that every little bit helps.

Do you feed the wildlife in your neighborhood?  This really could be a great time to start that bird feeder you’ve always wanted!