As early spring unfolds, I find myself tending…
Hello, fellow lovers of all things green,
The rhythm of the seasons continues to guide us, even when life feels uncertain or in transition. As we move into early spring garden care, we’ve had productive rains lately, making up for what had been below-average precipitation despite our above-average snowfall. Nature has a way of balancing herself when we don’t interfere.
Even when things feel out of sync, a quiet correction is often underway.
A Small Act That Steadies the Heart
Thank you to those who reached out after last week’s story. Many of you shared that you’re now seeing roadside litter differently—and even incorporating “plalking” into your walks.
That simple act of picking up what doesn’t belong does something to the soul. It shifts us from frustration into contribution. From helplessness into action. There’s something deeply centering about being part of the solution. It steadies the heart.
And we have more early spring tending to do in the garden and in the garden of life.
A New Chapter in the Garden
This season is bringing a new chapter. Now that it’s just me and Jolee, I’m taking on all of the groundskeeping—not just the gardens.
Jolee is supervising the great leaf reconvening—making sure everything is done just right.
I’ll admit, it feels intimidating. There was a time when I focused mostly on the planting beds—the creative aspects enhancing them each year while nurturing what was already growing. But now I’m stepping into the full picture, embracing a more holistic approach to spring garden cleanup and care.
And as I’ve begun, I’ve discovered something unexpected… there’s enjoyment unfolding that I didn’t anticipate.
Early Spring Garden Care: Reconvening with the Leaves
Over the weekend, I began what I’ll call a “reconvening” with the leaves. Those that had gathered over the winter were heavy, wet, and matted down in certain areas—the kind that cling together after a long winter under snow.
I’ve always been one to let leaves be—letting the wind carry them, letting nature decide where they land and how they return to the soil. And truly, Mother Nature does an extraordinary job.
But when leaves collect too thickly, especially under snow, they can form a dense layer that inhibits growth. They block air, water, and light. Understanding the benefits of leaf mulch helps guide what to leave and what to gently move. And even in a lawn like mine—which is far from traditional—that matters.
A Lawn of Companions: Rethinking ‘Weeds’
My lawn is more of a tapestry, filled with things I adore.
It’s a shame some turf fanatics consider the native Blue Violets weeds.
Violets. Clover. Plantain. Dandelions.
Not weeds in my eyes, but companions. Plantain and dandelion are edible, nutrient-rich, and offer important benefits for pollinators and people alike. (Link to Plantain & Dandelion Benefits)
I adore common blue violet (Viola sororia), with its charming little faces. Both flowers and leaves are rich in vitamins A and C. Yes, they are ambitious, but early pollinators rely on them—an important part of creating a pollinator-friendly lawn.
White clover, another favorite, supports pollinators, enriches the soil, and creates a softer, more sustainable lawn. Though not native, it was brought here by early European settlers, who considered clover lawns the norm. In fact, clover was once a standard component of lawn seed mixes before falling out of favor with the rise of chemical weed controls that didn’t distinguish between nuisance plants and beneficial ones.
Thankfully, clover is making a welcome return, and many are rediscovering the benefits of clover lawns as part of more sustainable gardening practices. (Link to Delightful No-Mow Clover Lawns.)
Still, even with this tapestry, there’s a balance to be kept.
Little visitors remind me I’m not the only one tending the garden.
Not Removing—Redistributing
So I began gathering the heavier leaf layers, raking them onto tarps and dragging them into the woods, placing them over disturbed soil from harvesting boulders for the beautiful wall now gracing the front of my home.
At first, worry set in about the critters nestled within those leaves. Then it occurred to me—I wasn’t removing them, I was redistributing them.
Gently moving what had yet to awaken, I am helping to heal the wounds left behind. The leaves will decompose, returning nutrients to the soil, supporting new growth.
In that moment, the work shifted—from cleanup… to care.
The Therapy of Tending
There is a therapy in this kind of work—an act of restoration. A rhythm. A grounding.
Trifolium repens, also called Dutch clover or white clover, is a beautiful way to have a more sustainable lawn.
A garden tractor waits for me to learn its ways. Soon, I’ll use mulching blades to return remaining leaves to the lawn, nourishing the soil where they fell—one of the simplest ways to support natural lawn care. I’ve also ordered white clover seed to help fill in areas disturbed by construction.
It will fit right in.
The Garden of Life
As I’ve been working outdoors, tending the land, I’m reminded how closely it mirrors tending our lives.
There are seasons for clearing.
For redistributing.
And for allowing what nourishes to take root again.
And perhaps that’s the wisdom of early spring.
Not everything needs to be removed. Some things need to be shifted, softened, or given space to return in a new way.
As we move through our own seasons—whatever they may hold—may we find small ways to tend what’s before us. To care for what matters. And to trust that, beneath it all, something good is ready to grow—in the garden and in the garden of life.
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com or tune in on your favorite podcast app.
Prefer to listen? 🎧
This story is also shared in this week’s podcast episode, with a few additional reflections from the screen porch.
Or listen on your favorite app:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | etc.
Thank you for tending along with me. 🌿
Related Blog Posts & Podcast Episodes:
- Plantain & Dandelion Benefits– Blog Post / Ep 157 Benefits of Plantain and Dandelion ‘Weeds’
- Delightful No-Mow Clover Lawns – Blog Post / Ep 168. Pollinators Love No-Mow Clover Lawns
