Springtime

For a variety of reasons this winter was particularly difficult - the state of the economy, family tribulations - and when I woke yesterday and realized it was the first day of Spring I felt like a marathon runner staggering across the finish line.

Several days of gentle, start and stop rain have washed the garden clean. The light is soft, clear, delicate.

To celebrate, let's see what's blooming!

A miniature tulip, unknown variety. I actually forgot that I'd planted these last fall - what a fantastic surprise when they finally bloomed.



Alonsoa - we've got a little 'color coordination' going on with the tulips.

Cistus. Translucent, shell pink blossoms belie it's tough, drought tolerant nature.


Iphion - a gift from Abigail. One day a rather small cardboard box arrived via UPS. I opened it with great anticipation. Carefully folded up inside were several Aristea (yes, the entire plants were just wadded up inside the box!) and a bunch of tiny Iphion bulb-lets. They are now my favorite early spring bloomers.

Magnolia 'viridiflora' - at least, that's what the hand lettered tag said when I bought the plant. The blossoms are creamy, velvety - highly scented with a boss of waxy, reddish gold stamens.

And finally, poppies. I usually toss handfuls of seed around right before our first Autumn rains. Some years I have a shimmering river of these along my gravel bank - this year, only a few precious blooms.