I am BACK (Spring’s Eve Edition)

So I got a gentle nudge from my Web Boss that I have neglected this blog SINCE SEPTEMBER??? First, that's completely unreal and second IT IS TRUE. 

I am awful at The Internet and that's not likely to change. HOWEVER, in the interest of gossip and goodwill and promoting all things Ranch, I am going to try my DARNDEST to be on here once a week this season! (let's see how we do with this) Some weeks there will just be pictures and others I will conjure up some things to say. Today is one of the 'things to say' posts:

This winter was busier than others-we traveled more, I worked on a lot of paperwork, and started building a BIGGGGG subsistence garden for myself (I'm sure there will be some tidbits for The Ranch in there as well-I will post pix once we're closer to being finished.) Now that the cold has really started to break, I'm turning my mind to SPRING CLEANING and this is what I want to talk about today!

On the topic of yard cleanup: my inner gardener is in combat with my inner entomologist. Did you know that our native bugs and birds-the species that do so much pollinating-(sorry honeybees you're in second place) rely on last year's garden waste? IT'S TRUE. Last year's leaves, stems, and plant litter are food and habitat sources for so many native species-this is why I leave a lot of land here at The Ranch go truly native over the winter. Now, enter these before/after photos of the front of my house:

.....here's where my Gardener kicks in. There are a lot of antique bulbs coming up that I look forward to every year, and I CLEAR THE LEAVES for them! Here's my point: give yourself some grace! If you can, leave some leaves and stems! The bugs will appreciate you and pollinate your yard! If you want to clear some leaves to show off the crocus and snowdrops (lovely early food sources for honeybees, BTW) then DO IT. BALANCE, my loves. (Enjoy those bulbs.)