Spring is around the corner!

Even though there is still snow on the ground, I can feel it in my bones that spring is just around the corner. As spring gets closer my creative ideas get going more and more! One thing that my family and I have in common on both sides is a creative streak and it has always been something that I enjoy. I am planning on taking out the fish pond that has been "gracing" my back yard for the last few years and put in a garden and water fountain that is much easier to maintain.

The pond has been a huge hassle every spring that I really don't enjoy. Last year I had to tear down and rebuild the fountain part of it several times because it had settled and water was going backwards instead of down the waterfall into the pond. We had fish in there for a year or so, but they were eaten by a raccoon last spring and I didn't see the need of spending more money to replace them when I wouldn't have anywhere to put them in the winter anyways. Since it was there when we bought the house, I don't really have any idea of how it was constructed and so fixing it has been difficult.

So my plan is to pull it all out, discard the rocks that I no longer need and fill it in with soil. The area has a lovely lilac bush on one side of it that will stay and serve as a good anchor for that side of the garden. I am not sure yet what plants I will be getting as I need to study what the light is like in that area. It gets some sun on the east side of it, but the tree creates a lot of shade most of the day. So, likely plants will be ones that don't mind partial sun or mostly shade. I really loved having the sound of moving water of the pond so I am working on creating a water feature. I found a great set of instructions for making a fountain with clay pots. This should easily cost me less than a hundred dollars and I will be able to design it myself. And it will be much easier to maintain, will use much less water, and possibly less energy (if I am able to find a reasonable solar powered pump). So mother earth and I both win!

I am very much looking forward to the spring and getting everything looking pretty again. The plants in my front area should all come back this spring, I just need to cut back the pampas grass and the growing vines. I will have to do something next to the garage again this year, perhaps more tomato plants since they seemed to thrive there last year. I wish I could figure out what to do by the garage corner that gets zero sunlight. Grass won't grow there and it's always muddy. Ideas? I don't really have a green thumb but I am getting better. I get almost all of my plants from Jim's Greenhouse on Hwy 61 so they are quality plants which helps.

So between that and all of the painting I want to get done this spring inside the house; I should keep plenty busy!