For the last week of so, we’ve been plagued by a invasion of my least favorite kind of spider: spiders-who-lurk-under-things-and-then-dart-menacingly.  Oh lordy, I do not enjoy these creatures.  In the past few days, spiders have darted out from the following places: under my computer mouse, under my laptop, under a magazine, inside a binder, and the.worst.possible.place: from inside the folds of the shower curtain.

Have I mentioned that I do not enjoy these encounters?

But Spring is almost here – it actually rained yesterday, instead of snowing! – so I’m hoping these new friends move outside soon.  Where they belong.  Because otherwise, I will squarsh them.  Squarsh them dead.

Okay, I’m getting the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it.  Let’s move on.

Last fall, I planted over a hundred flower bulbs: tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths (my favorite!).  I have no idea how they’ll fare at 7,800 feet, but I figured it was worth a try.

And look!  Tulips!

They’ve been a little nibbled and they’re growing slowly, but they seem to be surviving.  I’m crossing my fingers that they still produce a flower or two.

And what’s that adorable little sprout-baby in the background?

Three adorable little hyacinths!  I hope they’re purple.

I planted an entire bed of daffodils in the front yard, so let’s go see how they’re doing.

Hmm.  Nothing. 

No wait, look!

Just two little sprouts, barely out of the ground.  It’s still early, so I’m hoping that the yesterday’s rain and tomorrow’s warm temperatures start to work their magic.  The trees will start to bud out, the lilac will bloom, and all these little sprout-babies will burst into color.

Unless, of course, it snows again. 

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*On a completely unrelated note, take a moment to go read this post over at Hyperbole and A Half.  Sometimes, spiders really are everywhere, and Allie nailed the experience with her usual honesty, clarity, and humor.  Cheers, lady – hang onto the happy.

 

Early summer, we blindly chose some neat looking plants at the nursery and plunked them in the ground in a bed that’s under our second story deck.  And they all survived the summer!

The poor bed is in a bad spot.  It gets blasted for a few hours of high-altitude sun for a few hours each morning before being abruptly plunged into deep shadows.

These little pink ones did pretty well, but I wish I could remember what they are!  Vincas, maybe?  I deadheaded them a couple times, and they’ve been in full bloom all summer.

The catmint did pretty well too, though it didn’t grow as tall as some I’ve seen down the hill.

Bruce was dying to get some coral bells, so we purchased this cute little “Chocolate Ruffle” variety.  We put in the ground, and immediately, half of its leaves withered up and fell off.  Seems to be doing okay now, though.

This lupine was the Boy’s selection.  It flowered once, and then sprouted a teensy second bloom later in the summer.

These bleeding heart ferns were the only thing in this bed before this summer.  I think the little one in the front is an off-shoot of the one in the back, but I’m not sure.

These hostas are in nearly complete shade, but they’ve been doing just fine.

Well, except this one.  The dog slept on this one.

And this poor thing is a mess.  But I think it’s supposed to look like that.

All in all, I’m calling this summer’s adventure in landscaping a success!  Now if I can only get some vegetables to grow next year…