new beginnings

Its that time of year when the Sun is most welcomed and the snow has melted and life springs forth all around. WOOHOO winter is done with!!!
We will have lived here for 3 years come June. Our mark is somewhat made on our property but now....oooh...its totally gonna be noticed. We've started the long discussed front yard renovation, turning dead grubby grass and weeds to flower beds and pathway. Squeeee!!!!!
Yesterday I laid out our extension cord in lines that I thought suited the current and future configuration and then spray painted orange to show the layout. Following said lines with a spade, I cut into the turf and then pounded cedar shake pieces ( each shake is cut in two widthwise) into the cut and this will hold my path in place. When this part is done, we lay landscape fabric on the path and top with sheredded bark mulch. Everything NOT a path is a flower bed except for the 40 inch deep strip along the curb line. That will be better landscape fabric and pine nuggets. We ahve a lot of compost and mulch to buy. And plants and shrubs and maybe a tree or two. I still want a Redbud.
Bad news on the garden front: my lilac standard that got hit by the Tempo when it flipped is in worse shape than we thought. Two lower branch sections are coming away from the main trunk and splitting down the sides. This is NOT GOOD! I removed one part as best I could but need to saw away the other side thats come away...then how to dress the wound and save the rest of the tree?? This is why lollipop form standards suck... Very disheartening.
Everything is starting to bud out like crazy here even with snow still on some lawns (not mine HA). the lilac on the north side of the house is showing green in the buds...the purple leafed tree on the south side is even greener. Roses too are showing leaf buids and the soil is warming. Daffs are near blooming size ( already blooming at a neighbors). SPRING SPRING SPRING!!!!!!! Yaaaaaayyyy!