Spring is glorious. This week we got 5 wonderful days of sunshine in a row. The number of birds visiting my feeders daily increased dramatically and the leopard frog chorus still sings to us every night.

The alders and maples have leafed out. The wild crab apples and cascara tress are in full bloom but the most outstanding native flowering trees are the dogwoods. I admired them and the broad leaf maples as I mulched the bases my perennials and dead headed daffodils and tulips.

On Friday afternoon I had another hummingbird visit I was perched on a rock listening to a tree frog singing close by. She was a tiny little beauty who visited the rhododendrons blossom by blossom and then flitted away in an eye-blink.

I staked tall perennials this week and will stake dahlias and gladiolas when I plant the tubers next weekend. I’ve found by staking flowers and vegetables like peas right at planting time prevents the damage that occurs when staking them later on.

In my case impending carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia are factors that make gardening painful. But this year I have been using some new hand tools with ergonomically designed handles that I discovered last fall. If you haven’t tried them yet I recommend that you do. They sure reduce wrist stress, strain and pain.

I also have some tips to share. The way you move around the yard can have a big affect on how you feel the next day. To reduce strains I try to:

• Avoid reaching too far away from my body and move closer to the targeted area instead;
• Lift with my arms legs and not with my back;
• Bend at my knees and hips when lifting;
• I use raised flower beds, boxes and hanging baskets to minimize stooping; and
• I avoid prolonged repetitive motions.

My fuschia and geranium starts look healthy and happy. They are hardening off in preparation for next weekend when I will be planting my hanging baskets. Lastly, I’m planning to splurge at the nursery and buy some flowering annual bedding plants to integrate with them.