Now begin the dog days of winter. Days where the snow still lies thick on the land, but the season has shifted, and the sun is speaking of spring's promise ahead.
Dog spends long periods out on his patch of carpet, soaking up the warmth of the sun and watching the day pass. He is a Chihuahua, and every book and source talks about how much they hate cold weather. Cold, I think, is relative. If it's above freezing* and late winter, he would like to be outside a bit, thank you very much.
His behavior reminds me that it is time to think about pruning, while winter still holds the sap down and the bugs are yet to emerge. The apples are still undergoing a course of strong correction after long years of neglect. I have waterspouts on the red delicious that are as wide as my arm. And one must be careful to check for residue of the poison ivy that once entangled its trunk in cording thick as rope. Up, way up in those branches, bits and pieces of it remain to scald the unwary.
The forcast calls for rain this weekend. If we get a break, I'll be out there with the loppers and the pruning saw, starting my year in the garden.
*and even if it's not above freezing. Weather.com says we are currently at 28 F. Silly dog.
Mark did the pruning this year, bless him.
Posted by: jenn | May 25, 2004 at 08:13 PM