Pussywillow Shrub 'Salix discolor'

Every spring I bemoan the fact I can't find any pussy willow branches for an indoor display.  So when DH saw this tag, he called me over to the shrubbery section of Home Depot. Since the shrubs had already put on their spring show, they were marked 50% off.  I was thrilled that DH took an interest and alerted me to this bargain.

 I grabbed two without hesitation, thinking I would plant them in my front border.

Luckily I googled a bit before planting.  This innocent-looking little shrub can get 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide! WHOA--that certainly changes my mind about where to plant them. I put them in the rockwall garden where they can spread as much as they would like. 

Two hours ago we pulled about twenty pots of cannas and dahlias out from winter storage.  I just watched the weather forecast and it said FROST tonight -- down to 28 degrees.  Good Grief!  Now I have to go out and cover everything. I am just glad we only brought about half of the tropical plants out.

I spent another full day out in the gardens and am making some real progress. Today I painted a bunch of milk cans and wooden crates in a robin's egg blue.  I will use them all in some part of the gardens.

I was thrilled to find that a mourning dove has chosen my unadorned heart wreath for her baby's nursery.

I have not had a nest in this wreath for the past few years.  The robins usually use it when I have it decorated.  If it's bare, they don't like it.  This is the first year I have had a m. dove nest.

This afternoon I thought I would lie down in the family room and watch a TV show. Then it hit me that I had nothing to lay on! I still have not gone out looking for a sofa and love seat.  I really need to do this soon...maybe tomorrow.  I just have way too much to do in 4 short days off work!