Beginnings

I love Spring. If you asked me, I would tell you that Fall is my favorite season, but there is something so soothing about Spring's arrival. I know the season itself can be hot, cold, rainy, dry, unpredictable, and altogether not exactly soothing, but when the first green shoots start showing in all the dead brown, it soothes. Hearts weary from winter know the season is drawing to a close. The cold is a little easier to bear when the trees start budding and the daffodils are nodding. It soothes, knowing time marches on into greener things. And when those greener things really burst forth, in the glory of blooming magnolias and lilacs, in tender bleeding-hearts and sturdy hostas, in green leaves and greener grass, it's easy to forget the depths of winter. 

There is a little parkway in the neighborhood, maybe twenty feet long and five feet wide, that blooms each year packed full of tulips, rampant in a kaleidoscope of colors. And I know that bright flag of spring is soothing to everyone else in the neighborhood too--there is always someone crouched at the little fence, taking a photo. I have too, of course. 

It's even more splendid now, with more blooms open. 

Around the condo, the perennials we planted are doing well so far. It's a delight to walk by and see the progress the tiny ferns are making, or how many hosta leaves are sprouting from each bulb, or even the little bleeding heart begin to bloom. I just picked up the remaining plants to complete the design. Well, this year's design. I won't be able to resist adding to it each year. 

In my garden plot, the radishes had sprouted, as had the green beans and peas. I got the rest of the black beans in today, as well as the calendula and borage and thyme. I am currently waiting for the threatening line of thunderstorms to arrive in town and give the garden a much-needed drink. The city has not yet turned on the water at the garden, so I have to haul it along in my little granny-cart, or let Nature do her thing. Today was a nature kind of day. 

Peas:

Green beans:

My calendula self-sowed the hell out of itself last year. Lots of sprouts where the plants were last year. I might not need to sow as many indoors next year--there were some strong, healthy starts. My seedlings get a little leggy (and take up space). 

Time to make like a tree and leaf. 

.....

Sorry.