英语博客：It's that time again

　　appologies today for talking about one of my passions: gardening. It's that time again, whoopee! The weather has been perfect recently. Though there is snow on the tops of the nearby mountains, and the breeze is cold, the bright sun makes up for it. There is always something to do when you have a garden. This time of year means clearing the place up and getting ready for the Spring. Our entryway had five large bushes in a row. For years, I wanted to move them, and finally, we have. My husband dug them up, and replanted them next to the garage. Now, what am I going to do with the space that is left? I have a plan. There is a certain tree called a Japanese Maple¹. Its leaves look delicate and feathery, and the slim branches create a layered effect. I will look all over town until I find just the right one. This type of tree looks great next to a building because the branches grow delicately close to the walls, and often they form an arch that you can walk under. They come in green, red, or a mixture of both colors(ours). Then, I think a variety of perennials² and bulbs will do the trick for the rest of the area. It's surprising just how much work it is to add manure³, peat moss⁴, to dig, to rake, and then to clean up. It's a great workout! I think one of the reasons I love to garden so much is that you see progress very quickly, and nothing, apart from rock, is static. Growth can be seen in so many ways. After I finish this project, I will start tackling the vegetable garden. It is full steam ahead this year for maximum production of crops!
Grammar notes.
Common expressions: to make up for (it), to do the trick, to tackle, full steam ahead.
1. Having our friends over for dinner made up for the miserable⁵ weather.
2. You sound like you have a sore throat; this medicine will do the trick.
3. Tonight I have to tackle my tax forms; I'm not looking forward to it because there is so much paperwork.
4. We will not wait or delay progress. For us, it is full steam ahead.

1 maple   

n.槭树，枫树，槭木

参考例句：

• Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。

2 perennials   

n.多年生植物( perennial的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Name six perennials and six annuals suitable for indoor flower arrangement. 列出多年生及一年生花朵各六种，它们必须是适合插花的。 来自互联网
• Herbage can be divided into three categories: annuals, biennials, and perennials. 草本植物可分成一年生、二年生和多年生。 来自互联网

3 manure   

n.粪，肥，肥粒；vt.施肥

参考例句：

• The farmers were distributing manure over the field.农民们正在田间施肥。
• The farmers used manure to keep up the fertility of their land.农夫们用粪保持其土质的肥沃。

4 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

5 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。