Warm weather provides opportunities

Can you believe it? The much anticipated first day of spring is here. This past weekend and the first part of this week teased us with the warm weather that's just down the road.

Many folks, including my neighbors and me, spent Saturday afternoon in our yards, starting spring clean-up and preparing the lawn for an application of crabgrass preventer and fertilizer.

I didn't mind the volume of work that needed done -- any excuse to spend a few hours outdoors without having to be bundled up in a heavy coat. There was much to do, since a wet autumn and early onset of winter canceled final fall clean-up plans.

Plus, there was an opportunity to catch up on news over the backyard fence with neighbor Kevin. He was working on his yard and after we both had moved to our front yards it was time for a break. We sat on Kevin's front porch, which faces west, and enjoyed the warm sun.

The birds were out in force. In one of Kevin's trees we spotted a woodpecker, tapping away on a branch. We spotted three cardinals, two males fighting over a nearby female. Finally there was a victor and one of the males flew across the street, apparently looking for another opportunity for a mate.

Oh, there were also those fat robins, one which sat on a tree branch watching us watching him.

The lawns were also teaming with spring growth. Crocuses are breaking through the soil in a half dozen locations around the yard.

Kevin and I discussed the merits of a professional yard service, what we'd be planting in the vegetable gardens, and how the tight economy had a silver lining. It will keep us closer to home, giving neighbors and friends more opportunities to spend more time together. We decided this could be a revival of folks doing more visiting with neighbors, or undertaking more do-it-yourself projects.

For those looking at saving some money on yard fertilizer here's the recipe for an all-purpose yard fertilizer from America's Master Gardener, Jerry Baker. This recipe is a new twist on an old favorite of the yard guru, that he promises will have your yard rolling in the green.

Mix a can of beer, a can of regular cola, a cup of apple juice, a cup of lemon-scented soap, a cup of ammonia and a cup of all-purpose plant food in a large bucket, Then pour a quart into a 20-gallon hose-end sprayer. Apply to the point of runoff every three weeks during the growing season for fantastic results. And, the best part is, when you are done fertilizing, grab a couple sodas and share one with a neighbor.