Though most folks around the Country are usually glad to see the springtime take over from the dreaded dullness of winter, it does have a couple of detracts.When we put the mowers, shredders, weed eaters, & other such use-related articles in the shed in late Fall, it’s a welcome break from a lot of those weekly chores that might impede more pleasant activities such as fishing, hunting, etc. that so many of us would rather do. I also know a number of guys, & some gals, that would much rather go golfing than tend to tedious yard related chores around the house. Being a County Agent for many years as well as having a landscape horticulture business for several years, has given me a great appreciation of those good yard-keepers that take great pride in the appearance of their yard & landscape. We also know a good many folks that sort of look upon those kind of folks with somewhat of a jaundiced eye, sharing an opinion that they might not be very good fishermen, nor care much for hitting the links.

Anyhow, there are a few other lesser lists of undesirable aspects of spring. The plethora of pollens is usually astronomical as so many of the flowering plants & trees are shedding pollen this time of year. Fact is, it is getting so rampant that it’s difficult to tell if one has a cold or merely allergies. Jeff & Jim Bob enjoy either as the medications for either cost us a bit. The weather is usually rather windy this time of year, and besides being uncomfortable, it also magnifies the amount of different pollens we are exposed to. If I’d wanted to live in windy country, we could have moved to Amarillo or Cotulla. The folks up in Lubbock say they like it.

There are a few other things that are timely in the early spring. Folks are frantically busy trying to get their lawns looking good in this severe period of transition. Most of the lesser informed folks want you to give them a magic wand one can wave over the lawn & all will be well. That isn’t the way it works. Be patient, get your good grower’s list, and go by the book. If you’ve had any experience at all, you should realize that a little light fertilization, regular mowing and watering will just about fix anything. If you happen to doubt my word, then you can give them a call down at the County Agent’s office & inquire as to their offerings on the subject.

Another Horticultural time sensitive event is to be soon at hand. I had a call from an ol’ County Agent accomplice from over at Llano earlier in the week from one John L. Kuykendall. John still gets roped into helping put on a Pecan propagation workshop on annual occasion and was in search of some graft wood for his clinic. Anything that John Byrd & I put up is pretty well spoken for, so I did tell John that I could probably find some prior to his workshop. I think he’s putting his on the 17th, so if you have any need of learning that art, give John or the Llano County Agent’s office a call & I’m sure they will be glad to have you over. John, Duery Menzies, Curtis Henderson, Billy Kidd, & yrs. Truly all collaborated over the years past, so I might just go over & get some training mine own self. That way, the Mayor & I can keep a handle on it, out around—————Harkeyville!!!!!