My First Wheelbarrow Load for 2012

I finally went outside after work today and started my 2012 garden chores.  I think I spent about 45 minutes cutting down Sedum Autumn Joy plants, picking up fallen pine branches and removing weeds. 

After I finished this chore, I made myself a lemon drop martini to celebrate the beginning of a new gardening season.

  It's just the juice of one fresh lemon, some simple syrup and a shot of citrus-flavored vodka combined with ice in a cocktail shaker.  Shake until it's too cold to hold any longer and pour into a martini glass.  Now that's the way to start a new season!

We have had beautiful weather this week. If I did not have to be a work at my paying job during my most productive morning hours, I would have gotten a lot more work done outside.  I am hoping it will be warm this weekend, so I can rake those beds in earnest.   I don't even want to think about all the work I still have to do before I get to the fun part of enjoying the flowers.