Now we attack the yard

This weekend Jim and I started 2 separate major projects. Jim, with the help of his pal Seth, ran wires to the garage from the basement in preparation for building his workshop. He has started to accumulate some major pieces of necessary equipment including a table saw and dust collection equipment and has started to install a system for hanging his tools and shelves and generally get massively organized (as only Jim can do). I, on the other hand just gathered my gardening stuff, plus the addition of some great new extendable snips and started raking and cutting and gathering debris. We have a ton of yardage.I am starting on the backyard. I divided it into 6 segments and I figure it will take me a weekend to do each section. There is a ton of pruning to be done as well as oak leaf removal which is holding down the ivy and stopping the sun from getting in. I am currently doing research on leaf blowers. Though I hate the noise, it seems like the only way to clean out the ivy beds without hurting them.Every day I make new discoveries in the garden. I was saying to Jim that as an anniversary present to ourselves I wanted to plant a dogwood tree and then on Sunday while relaxing on the deck I looked up and the tree which is next to the deck and when the blossoms opened I realized it was a Dogwood but a different variety then I am used to with very small beautiful blossoms. We also have 4 huge old lilacs which are in serious need of trimage which will happen after they blossom. Azaleas are blooming and there are all kinds of bulbs starting to pop up through the front of the ivy. So one section, 14 bags of leaves and a giant wood pile.The town only will let you put out 6 bags of garden rubbish a week so might have to lug it ourselves.Good thing I bought a box of 100 lawn bags! While racking behind the Cyprus trees I found this cool metal bumble bee and a cobalt blue marble. Yes I am having the time of my life, except for those scratches!