Waiting for Spring

Mother Nature played an April Fools's trick on the Palouse.  Friday was beautifully sunny and warm, just the kind of spring day I have been aching for.  The weekend, however, was a different story.  Saturday had high temperatures in the low 40s with 30 mph wind gusts.  We made a gallant effort to be out and about, giving local merchants in downtown Moscow some business as we slipped, windblown, in and out of the shops.  I managed to rack up a lot of raffle tickets for the "Bagless Campaign" run by Buy Local Moscow.  I am getting much better about remembering to always have a few shopping bags in the car with me (and sometimes even in my purse) so that I don't have to bring home yet another paper or plastic bag!


Because the weather was marginal, at best, my husband spent some time this weekend replacing the flooring in our office.  We now have a beautiful cork floor.  Cork is wonderful as a flooring material--I almost wish we had it instead of carpet in the bedrooms.  It is warm, soft, and sustainable.  Not to mention the fact that it looks lovely!


I spent yet more time researching options for our "West 80"--the area behind our fence that leads down to Paradise Creek.  Right now it is a bed of weeds, with a few nice plants and trees thrown in the mix.  I would like to have the entire area be native Palouse prairie plants, that require no work on our part--i.e. no mowing or watering.  I am told that is possible, but the existing vegetation will have to be removed first.  I am planning to work in sections, but this is beginning to look like a two year project at least.

That is a wild rose bush next to the gate.

Hillslope to the left of the stairs (as you descend)

I've planted several current bushes and a chokecherry on this slope.  Note the burm of yard waste that needs to go.