Ugh, Winter Garden Work

The worst part of gardening, for me, is the clean up after the growing and harvesting season.  I put it off far too long.  I read about other gardeners "putting their garden to bed", but I let mine stay up all winter like a rebellious teenager.  There is no tucking in or a last drink of water for my garden.  I try to ignore it or procrastinate until nearly spring every year and I'm always sorry.

This year, I've had a pretty good excuse.  We had an early freeze before Thanksgiving.  Of course, I couldn't work out there when it was freezing.  Then there was Thanksgiving itself.  Who has time for gardening when cooking and prepping for the prime holiday is approaching?  Then there was more freezing and raining, then Christmas, then more freezing and raining and freezing and raining.

Today is the first sunny, not freezing day (and by "freezing", I mean "not above 50") we've had in months.  My excuses won't fly.  I must get out there and clean it up.  Except for the mounds of taller green in the center of the picture, which is arugula that is living on and on, every other green thing in sight is weeds that must be pulled.  ugh.

The eggplant and tomato vines have to be pulled out and the asparagus has to be cut back.

I only want to stay in the warm house, drink coffee, eat cookies, snuggle up with a book, and/or work on my upholstery projects.

But, we have a bunch of free mulch waiting on us.  Tom doesn't even have to chip wood this year.  So, the heat is on.