Spring Break

I decided to take a couple days off this week to enjoy time with my son during his spring break and to hopefully get a few things done in my garden. We’re several weeks into spring, but until just moments ago, I had yet to plant a seed. I always have this vague sense of unease until I get my garden planted.

So, a lovely hour was spent digging in compost, and raking and smoothing the soil. A ready to plant bed is to me is as a fresh canvas must be to an artist. I sat on the edge of the bed with my seed packets before me deciding which seed babies to plant first. It’s so nice to have contrast in color and texture…hmmmm….. In my mind’s eye I can already see the tidy rows of rich greens and reds.

Carefully tucked into the first raised bed are now spinach, mustard, red lettuce and radishes. Radishes are such a lovely thing. Whether or not you like to eat them, you must admit, they are about as close to instant gratification as a gardener can get! After a long northwest winter, I’m looking forward to the first harvest even if it’s just a handful of radishes! Now we just need a bit of sun.

After I washed up, I wandered around the garden taking a few photos to share with you. The photo immediately below is of my grandfather’s trilliums. Every time my grandmother would get the itch to move, my grandfather would carefully dig and relocate his trilliums. He gave a start to my mother and she in turn shared them with me. I have carefully dug and moved these little living mementos six times now, I do believe. Thankfully they are quite resilient; these blossoms are some of the first to grace my shade garden each spring.

This time of year is also a very, busy and buzzing time for our little Anna’s Hummingbirds. I stood very, very patiently a mere two feet away from our deck feeder and managed to snap a few photos of this tiny little female! From the top of her tiny head to the tip of her tail feathers, this little girl is barely 3 inches long! (Do notice the watchful eye she has trained on me!) Our hummingbirds return year after year right about Valentine’s Day. If we’re slow bringing out the feeders they will buzz right over your head, or hover outside the kitchen window as if to say, “Hey, you in there! We’re starving!” This year they arrived along with the last of winter’s snow.

Speaking of snow, I do hope the warmth of spring soon returns to my friends back east! Enough already!