Hog heaven

Wilbur has endured his first Alabama backyard winter.  It was a tough one, a tree nearly crushed him, and it was especially gloomy and wet.  But spring has arrived and he is surrounded by blooming euphorbia.  He looks quite pleased with himself.

Awakening

Sometimes spring arrives with an explosion of color.  Everywhere I look would be a kaleidoscope of bright, ever-changing colors, sounds and fragrance vigorously taking over the landscape.

This year, spring is arriving quietly, tip toeing up through the soil, greeting me with a flower or two on each blooming shrub, birds softly trilling high in the trees whose buds and blooms slowly swell.  I can almost feel the stems and leaves stretching toward the sky while we all wait for the sun to shine again.

Hush, listen to the gardens awaken.

"Sunshine" for a rainy day

The forecast for this week is rain, rain and a little more rain.  We have only seen the sun a handful of times in last few weeks so a forecast with more clouds and rain is rather depressing. 

Between rainfalls, I managed a walk through my gardens, looking for hints of spring.  The windflowers are blooming, a few of the spring perennials are poking their heads through the soil and the poor daffodils are trying to keep their heads up in spite of the pounding rain. 

My blue crocus's are the "sunshine" in the garden this week.  They are bright and beautiful even in the rain and gloom.  They look fabulous this year.  I looked up the photo I took of them last year to compare; there are twice as many blooms!  God just knew we would need cheering up this week.

So sad

Being a Minnesota girl, I feel like winter is not complete without at least a little snow.  I no longer desire blizzards but I long for a day or two of fluffy white frosting on the trees and dazzling white lawns the sparkle in the sunlight. 

Each winter I display a plaque in my kitchen reminding my family to "pray for snow" and I loving set out a sled and snow shovel by the front steps to prepare for a snow day.

Several times this winter, the forecast seemed hopeful but every time the snow fell in someone else's backyard.  We didn't see one single snowflake this year.

Now that March is here, it is time to put away my plaque and snow toys . . . maybe next year.