True Grit

This it the sand and gravel left on the boulevard after the winter

It is really rather appalling. One year we had fifty grocery bags of the stuff

Repairs

The Geek has rebuilt the rainbarrel stand













And stitched together the bumper










I smushed in January when I slid into a light standard.
Now to just remove the red tuck tape, which held up very well, I must say.

Persistent Gravity

Yesterday, after planting the hollyhocks I brought back from the farm, I decided to go and close the stopcocks on the rainbarrels so we could start storing water again.
Winter was not kind to the stand for the primary barrel.

The stand looks something like kindling at the moment.

The Geek has a project, and she wasn't even looking for one right now.

Easter Colour

The crocuses in the lawn at the farm are blooming.
I've never seen the rhubarb with such red leaves. Is it angry the snow slowed its growth?
And it is always good to see the vinca and the other biennels forging ahead.

Meanwhile, Out in the Garden

The rhubarb first showed itself on Thursday but somehow, disappeared for awhile after Saturday's snow. I didn't think plants could do that.
And the tulip bulbs Ruzter and K gave me for my birthday are sprouting!

Waking to a Winter Wonde...Wait a MInute!

It started snowing around 1800 hours last night, and this is what I woke up to this morning.

Thing did not improve much as the day progressed, either.

Not Close Yet

So far there is still a lot of space before the river hits the St. Vital bridge dike.

Budding Optimism

While it is really hard to see any signs of spring in our dead lawn,
the crocuses really are trying!

Flood Preparation

The city is starting to put up sandbags long the river under the St Vital Bridge.
So far it is a much bigger dike than it was in 2009.

Open Water

It didn't take long for the cracked ice to be washed away by the rising water.
This picture was taken on Wednesday.

The Breakup

The ice on the Red River has been looking rather sketchy since Friday.
Monday morning there were a few loose pieces near the bridges, and by Monday evening the ice had given way.
Now we have to hope the the Amphibex and machine that drilled holes near Netley Creek have done their job, and there will be no ice jamming this year.

Oh, So Sneaky

In the microclimate near the back door, the tulips have started.

However, since they are so well hidden by a rhubarb leaf, I didn't find them until today.
I suspect tho', that they popped up on Saturday when it was so warm.