There are hundreds of things that could be on your spring list but here are the most important three to your landscape.

1. Cut back all ornamental grasses to the ground and bag the tops and donate to the trash folk. Why? If you don’t cut them back, they will fall apart and blow all over the place and you will end up chasing them. Much simpler to just take an electric or gas hedge shear and cut them off now.
2. Most of our hydrangea’s bloom on new growth, particularly the Pee Gees which I liked to plant in my day. Use the three measuring tools we all have with us everywhere we go and cut them to your knee, waist, or shoulder, according to the size and variety. If you need a suggestion, send me a photo or call and I’ll meet you to discuss.
   
3. Lastly, on the important list, cut back your knock-out roses now before they start to grow. Probably knee or waist for heights and don’t be fancy just cut them straight across. Once they start to grow, you will see why.
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Since this time of year is fairly quiet as far as landscaping goes, let's continue with some date specific fun:

Groundhog Day

• Groundhog Day is one of my favorite Bill Murray movies…
• I can watch it over and over again.
  

Valentine's Day

• She was scared of roses. She did not know where the issue stemmed from.

Presidents' Day

• What did they call George Washington’s false teeth?
  Presidentures.
  

Introducing Lilly Major, I know her as the sheriff of Braewick Woods. To say that Lilly’s family and I go back is an understatement so let's just assume that Pervis and Peggy Major and I have been blessed to be in Morgantown through the Hardware store and the Lawncare relationship longer than either of us claim.

How did such a beautiful young lady get stuck with assisting (managing in her words) a mature couple here in Morgantown? As she told me the story, it was just God’s work. She grew up on the streets of Raleigh County, spending her first couple years learning life’s lessons the hard way. Running awry of the law there she was placed her in an orphanage, we call it a shelter, and it was there honing her skills at eldercare (just her words I can’t misrepresent) that brother Chip found her and voila!

Lilly was so happy to be home! Not only did she have stability but more importantly she had a job because there was a lot of work, mainly getting Dad up to her standards but Mom needed a little help, too. After all, as she says, “I have standards and they will be met or there will be trouble.”

First, she had to deal with the food in the house. She easily trained her dad how to eat snacks often and when she particularly needed one. She even taught her mom to hide in the garage if she was going to have a chip so we could have those there and not have Dad begging for them. That can be embarrassing. Snacks are essential so that when she goes to work there’s gas in the tank.

Lilly puts on her Sheriff badge and off she goes to maintain order in Braewick Woods. As Lilly says “when they put me on my flexy lead to do my patrol, just think stunt kite at the beach, just faster, a blur of action." Lilly gives vigilance its definition. “There will be no collies on my home turf,” she often mutters under her breath. Truth be known she would be happiest being the only dog in Braewick Woods.

Lilly is particularly proud of her other brother Kevin. She would appreciate you listening to this song he wrote because it will mean some very special treats from him. Isn't he so talented? He wrote the lyrics and music. She loves music but Pervis and Peggy keep her so busy misbehaving that she barely has time.

Thanks to my special friends and clients Peggy and Pervis Major for allowing me to visit with their precocious daughter Lilly, and Lilly. “It was an honor to meet you!”