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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Medford man accused of threatening girlfriend with high-speed crash ... Town hall meeting on marijuana planned ... Police say man admits to 50 vehicle thefts in Rogue Valley ... Medford man accused of threatening girlfriend with high-speed crash ... Town hall meeting on marijuana planned ... Police say man admits to 50 vehicle thefts in Rogue Valley ... Carol Link: It's time to get into shape for spring yard work Comment By Carol Link More Content Now MailTribune.com By Carol Link More Content Now Posted Apr. 1, 2015 at 8:57 AM Updated Apr 1, 2015 at 8:58 AM By Carol Link More Content Now Posted Apr. 1, 2015 at 8:57 AM Updated Apr 1, 2015 at 8:58 AM » Social News I admit that I have done less garden cleanup this winter than ever before. The bad weather and a wide range of colds, sinus problems, strep throat and other infections turned me into a couch potato this winter. With a lifelong history of being active (possibly even obsessive/compulsive), I always have stayed ahead of the game, was never a procrastinator and this couch potato role is not one to which I ever aspired. The past few days, I have been gazing out the windows at the bright yellow daffodil blossoms in our backyard, anxiously awaiting better weather. If the rain would ever stop, I planned to go outside to see what else was budding and blooming. This morning, the ground was damp, but the weather was nice and no moisture was falling. As I walked down the driveway to mail a birthday card to one of my great-granddaughters, I noticed swollen buds on native azaleas,; pinkish, partially-opened buds on oakleaf hydrangeas; and tiny yellow flowers forming on forsythia. And I saw weeds, weeds, weeds in my planting beds. All the moisture we have experienced for the past month has been great for the growth of desirable vegetation, but, regrettably, undesirable plant life has thrived as well. When I returned to the house, Oscar and I got ready to venture outside to do a bit of yard work. Wow! What a mess. I pruned several rose bushes and Oscar hauled rose clippings and other debris to the woods. During the recent ice, snow, wind and rain nature pruned our large trees, scattering sticks and limbs of all sizes all over the hill. Using the bed of Oscar’s white pickup truck with the two red doors (the odometer shows 263,000 miles), we picked up sticks and limbs until our backs were aching and the truck was loaded. That’s when we began to realize how out-of-shape we were. In a small trailer, we mixed a large bag of peat moss with a load of topsoil, hauled the mixture down to the rose beds and scattered the soil throughout the planting bed. Taking turns leaning against the lawn mower, we had to acknowledge that our morning chores had just about done us in. “Oh, my back!” I groaned and “Oh, my back!” Oscar moaned, as we headed to the back door. We will have to get in shape if we’re going to get all the yard work done this spring. We have been saying we need to walk and we need to stretch our muscles — now we need a little less talk and a lot more action! Carol Link is a columnist for The Gadsden (Ala.) Times. By Carol Link More Content Now MailTribune.com By Carol Link More Content Now Posted Apr. 1, 2015 at 8:57 AM Updated Apr 1, 2015 at 8:58 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501