Ready for Spring

I was up early this morning so I could move ahead in a thick book for a while, glance at the paper, take care of Bass the dog, and maybe do a few office tasks I've been ignoring (i.e. "rat killing" as a good friend calls it). There was a light snow yesterday afternoon, followed by a very cold night. Slick patches formed on pathways and streets by morning, hence the plan to get the routine going early and be at the health club by 7:00 a.m. to do something that didn't involve running on ice.

This afternoon I wandered into my back yard to do routine pick-up (dog, you recall). I'm really ready for spring. I like getting my patio back in shape...planters, table umbrellas. Two varieties of sage are still alive out there, as are the chives and lavender in whiskey barrels. Clamatis is brittle and clinging to its trellis. Downstairs in the family room, I've been coaxing along a planter of last year's daisys - positioning it to take maximum advantage of a splash of afternoon sunlight that moves across the floor in front of the t.v. A hibiscus tree and a bougan villa are upstairs in the room adjacent to my office. Both have bloomed most of the winter thanks to hours of sunshine coming through a large southeast window. Not too much longer and these plants will be on the patio, too.

Beyond the confines of the patio, the birdbath is frozen solid. In one plant bed, the gazing ball is not yet surrounded by oregano, mint, horehound, and sedum. In another, the ornamental grass needs to be cut back before its dry leaves scatter all over the yard. The large flowering quince bush is covered with brown frozen blooms; a reminder of premature warm weather a few weeks ago. Spring will be sweet.