Prep for March

Did any of you go outside today?  Cold. Windy. Cold. Sunny. Cold.

My tasks today in Tribeca were to remove the christmas lights that wrapped the six trees on the deck, clean up the loose debis and remove browning holly branches. 

As I began taking down the lights, the client and I discussed the option of keeping the old lights for next year or cutting them off and starting fresh next Christmas.  

In the end, we decided that cutting them off would be quicker and next years lights would be L.E.D.   

In comparison, the typical holiday light strand will last about 3,000 hours and an L.E.D. light can last about 50,000 hours as well as uses about 1/10 less electrical current than the commonly used incandescent lights.  Go Green!!

Going through the beds, I cleaned out the old holly sprigs and checked for early bulbs.  

Most of the bulbs are still deep underground frozen and waiting for warm weather.  These few were coming up under the maple tree on the deck.  If my memory is correct, I planted yellow pixie irises and I think a few deep purple crocuses.  These little guys are no taller than 7" when in full bloom.  I hope they hold out for another few weeks!

Flanking the door to the house is a wall trellis with two climbing hydrangeas.  They have palm size round leaves with flat 6" white lace like blooms.  For now, they are brown woody branches with buds ready to go.  A few have tiny little leaves starting to burst.   

After three hours in the Hudson River winds, I called it quits and came home for some paperwork and a nap.  Oh the winter gardeners life.  

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Tomorrow I am receiving two french lavenders, a 2' spruce and all the railing racks from a client who is moving from his small balconied apartment.  His new apartment has no outdoor access so we are planning on making three to four terrariums for his window sills.  Exciting!