Busy, busy, busy. Spring has officially come to Maine—the black flies have reared their nasty little heads—and gardeners have about one month to get their gardens in order. By June, the plants are too big for easy fertilizing, composting, and dividing. So the race is on!
I am happy to report I am pretty much on schedule. My first job is to remove all the leaves that have blown into the various beds, and this is no small thing when you live on the edge of a small forest.
I am about two-thirds done with leaf removal. After that, it will be on to spreading compost and fertilizer then dividing perennials and planting annuals, which is one of my favorite things to do.
In between removing wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of leaves from the beds, I have taken time to admire to admire the unfurling of the ferns, which I always love to see. For couple of weeks, the curled ferns are so tender and delicate looking. Then just like that they spring into sweet leafiness, and year after year, I am enchanted as I watch the process.
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As many of you know, I am also working like crazy to finish Of Time and Magic, Book Four in my Great Library Series. I had hoped to be wrapped up by now, but it looks is though I won’t be finished until either the end of this week or the beginning of next week. I want to take my time with the ending of this book, which is the culmination of ten years of work, when I began the first book in the series, Maya and the Book of Everything.
I probably have three more chapters left to go. The winds of the writing gods blow me to and fro, but I am getting there. I can definitely see the harbor and many friendly faces on the dock.
Of Time and Magic‘s current word count: 99, 180
Notes From the Hinterland 
How exciting, both the ferns and your book! Ten years of work is a very big deal. Congratulations!!
Yes, indeed! Thanks so much.
New beginnings in the garden and a satisfying ending to your book, how glorious. This reads like such a happy post.
Thanks, Anne.
Ferns and book, yay! Black flies already, boo, hiss!!
As we would say in Maine, two out of three ain’t bad. 😉
Spring has arrived pretty fully here in Pennsylvania. Some trees haven’t opened up all their leaves yet, though. Enjoy the week.
Many thanks!
So pleased Spring has arrived though giving you a lot of work in your garden. Good luck with your book too.
Thanks, Susan!
Spring has been taking its sweet time in arriving fully on Vancouver Island — with lots of teasing inbetween. Congratulations on your most current book – almost there!
Yes, almost there. Phew! Thanks for the encouragement.
Lots of exciting unfurling going on in your world, including the unfurling of a new book. Sometimes getting to the finish line is the hardest part of any endeavor. Enjoy the journey. I look forward to reading the book. I have really enjoyed your series. 🙂
Thank you so very much for kind words. Yes, endings are tough.
Good luck finishing your book!
Many thanks!
Beautiful ferns unfurling, and the last couple of chapters. Exciting stuff, and picture me on that dock cheering you on.
Thanks, Judy!
Ferns are some of our oldest plants, no improvement needed, clearly nature’s perfection is enduring.
Good news all around… enjoy the process as spring unfolds and your book nears completion! 🙂
Thanks, Eliza. Yes, nature’s perfection is enduring.
There is something otherworldly about the ferns. Maybe they could be part of the landscape in your book, or another story? Good luck getting to the finish line!
An ancient plant. And many thanks for the kind words.
I love the way the ferns are all curled up … like a cozy cat in front of a fireplace. And I love that you’re taking your time with the ending of your book. After all, what’s the point of laboring in love over the beginning and middle if you’re going to shortchange the ending? I mean, that’s the part many people will remember, right?! Hang in there, Laurie — you got this!
Great analogy! Thank you, thank you for encouraging words.
I remember the unfurling of the ferns from last year…a lovely beginning to spring. I can see that spring must be very busy, with such a short window to clear and plant.
How exciting to be almost finished your book, your mind must be constantly absorbed by the story. Best wishes.
Yes, a busy but sweet time. I really do enjoy working in the garden. Very exciting to be coming down the homestretch after ten years. Also a little stressful. Will I be able to pull it all together? I sure hope so. 😉
I hope good things will keep unfurling for you, including the final chapters of your novel.
Many thanks, Tanja!
The wonderful fern. Sending good thoughts your way as you work to complete your writing.
So lovely to see the ferns emerge and unfurl Laurie and wishing you happy writing of the final chapters for Of Time and Magic too 💚✍
Thank you, thank you!
Congratulations on keeping upmwith the unfurling garden. I guess the book won’t resent the time spent
Mornings are for the book; afternoons for the garden. A nice division of labor.
Yes
We also love watching the ferns unfurl! No blackflies here yet, but we’re expecting them any day now. Good luck with finishing the book. You’re going to get there!
A-w-w-w, thanks so much!
I’ve always enjoyed the first unfurling of ferns; how lucky you are to have them near you! The unfurling of a book may not always seem such a natural process, but you certainly have cleared away the detritus, added details, and planned for its future. When it comes to a book, I’d think those garden chores might be called ‘editing’!
Yes, indeed!
Outdoor spring clean-up is a lot of work. Then again, you also find the gems of spring. Good luck on finishing your book.
Thanks, Frank! Spring clean-up is a lot of work, but I do enjoy it. Believe it or not.
At least one type of fern head can be eaten while it is young, but I don’t know which one and of course you’d need to be very confident of identification not to do yourself a mischief. I like the idea of seeing a curled one gently cooked on a plate, for some reason. Well done with the book. 99,180 words is not to be sneezed at. I confess to being very curious about how it will end!
Yes, we call them fiddleheads here in Maine, and they come from ostrich ferns. Thanks so much for your interest in my Great Library Series! I
Oh, I love those fern photos! And Maya! How can it have been 10 years? I had no idea. Do take the time to do her justice. xo
Right? Ten years? Yes, I am taking my time, and as Francis Ford Coppola advised in “The Offer,” I’m trusting the process.
Yes – trust the process. Very wise words.
I also find the unfurling of ferns an enchanting process. It always seems so improbable that those delicately curled shoots can produce fully developed fern fronds. Hope the writing is going well, and that you celebrated when you passed the 100,000 words milestone!
Just crested 100,000 words. Woo-hoo! Yes, a mini-celebration.
excellent!
Beautiful photos of the changing seasons!!🙂 Amazing you’re able to stay on schedule with the garden and writing. Looking forward to your book and seeing your beautiful yard throughout the summer!🙂
Many thanks! I must admit it’s a little stressful to combine spring gardening with finishing my book. Time to take a wee break from blogging, I think.
That is one thing we don’t have out here, those pesky blackflies that make working outdoors difficult. I love the unrolling fiddleheads of ferns!
I love the ferns!
Spring is such a busy time in the garden but if you only have one month to get everything done it must be pretty manic. Like you I love watching ferns uncurl. Sometimes the tractor mounted mowers they use on the hedgebanks slice through a fern plant and the structure low down is beautiful too. Good luck with the book.10 years is a lot of work so yes, the ending has to be spot on.
The fiddleheads of the unfurling ferns are so lovely. And they are indeed an apt metaphor for your writing. (Perhaps raking leaves and wheelbarrowing them elsewhere is a good editing metaphor, when you get there?)
I’m thinking of you and all your hard, creative, inspired work.