Spring thaw

Despite the recent warm and sunny weather, it's still too early for removing mulch or digging beds. This weekend, I settled for raking up shed twigs and branches from the winter's storms and admiring this hillside spread of snowdrops. Spring is in the air!

Youth and old age

For anyone feeling his or her advancing age, this photograph says it all . . .



My parent and child "Minerva" amaryllis bulbs were planted at the same time. The child is sporting six inches of greenery. The parent? Too tired to do more than squeeze up a couple of leaf tips. I'm exhausted just thinking about how much effort was required for these slim results.

The child won't bloom for several years. The parent? Well, I thought that was on bedrest, but I'm delighted to see the flower bracts just nosing up above the bulb. Make haste slowly, as my elderly father would say with a wink.

Winter wind-down?

I'm hoping that March means the end of the snow season--as it's also the end of my supply of "Ziva" paperwhite narcissi.



Winter, I'm so over you!