RAIN!

Second straight day of computer stuff. But hey- I'm not complaining. This is the kind of rain I remember from springs past. In fact, I am so old that I can remember a spring or two when I just gazed out of the window day after day thinking that it just couldn't rain anymore! Now, at least this week, that kind of rain pattern is back. And aren't we thrilled! As they say.....what a difference a few years makes.
Meanwhile, the warmer temps creeping in along with the rains have turned the dreary winter days into exciting peeks at spring. The Japanese Maples are magic every year.

They change from day to day- hairy silver leaves, red dangles of flower buds, leaf colors from chartreuse to green, oranges, reds, maroons, finely dissected to broad hands. You should come see! Even Boxwoods look luscious right now. Pretty soon my lovely colorful conifers will have to take a back seat to Fothergilla, Illicium floridanum, Viburnums, Redbuds. And while the blast of spring continues, we're planning the vegetable garden full of heirloom veggies. Tomatoes for sure, in ornamental colors, along with peppers in all sorts of colors, shapes, sizes, and heats. Lettuces and other greens. Beans and peas. (Can you tell I spent too much time indoors in January with the plant catalogs??) Come take a look at the nursery, and keep coming back to watch to plants embrace spring and the nursery fill up with show offs.
I got an email from my daughter with a little snippet of a poem that seems to fit my mood today...

"And who will care, who will chide you if you wander away 

from wherever you are to look for your soul?

from wherever you are, to look for your soul?

Quickly, then, get up, put on your coat, leave your desk!"

-Mary Oliver

from Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches by Mary Oliver

Sounds like good advice....