Rollin' up my sleeves

It snowed yesterday but spring is definitly in the air. When the trees start their blooms and the little white flowers on my spirea begin to show I know I'm in trouble. I have a love hate relationship with nature right now. I hate it because it is so inviting and so tempting yet so much work! I want to invest my days in playing in the dirt and digging and building and planting and enjoying my yard but I can't. I can make only a few small steps at a time. The area off the back porch looks really good. We filled it in with mulch and have a picnic area out there. I need to clean up around the roses and fertilize them. I have a good spot for some herbs there but I'm worried about the foot traffic. I'm not sure how to protect my plants. We are brainstorming ideas for doggie protection and have come to the conclusion that Nora needs to be on a run when she is in the back yard. She needs to be contained because we just don't have the time to train her properly. This makes me sad but its my own fault. My own ADD. As for the side yard, I kind of feel like I need a nuclear bomb! It is a mess. A total and complete failure. I'm hoping to salvage the few plants I have left and try to make something somewhat beautiful there. My goal is to start with the front yard. It needs mulch and cleaning up and it will be great. I never plant annual flowers but I think I will try this year. I need some color. The other thing that has been on my mind lately is planting a plum tree. With my grandmother's passing in Oct, I have thought long and hard about her plum jam. I have missed for a while (she stopped canning it a long time ago) but I want to have my own tree so I can put some up. It is one of my most favorite homemade items. I don't know much about caring for trees. I am realizing I don't know much about gardening period. Hopefully I can make all my book knowledge grow one thing this year.