The garden awakens

One of the best seasons in Alabama is springtime.   While many places in the USA are still struggling with snow, ice, and cold temperatures, February in Alabama is when the daffodils and forsythia bloom and the buds on the trees begin to swell in anticipation of summer.

I enjoy the daffodils and forsythia and eagerly await the first crocus blooms near my front steps, but there is also a sense of great excitement in the air as the spring growth begins to emerge from its winter sleep.  I can almost feel the ground quiver as my garden awakens to spring.

As I strolled through my backyard, I found flowers and tender green shoots rising to meet the spring sunshine.  Enjoy the bright daffodils, but also take the time to look for the quieter signs that the garden is waking.

Henbit heaven

In Alabama, weeds are seasonal.  We have summer weeds, spring weeds, fall weeds and even winter weeds. 

The winter weed that plagues my backyard in the worst way is henbit.  No matter how diligently I weed and mulch during each previous winter, the henbit comes back enthusiastically the following winter.

This year is no exception.  My henbit crop is absolutely heavenly.  In its defense, I must remind myself that henbit is highly prized by honey bees as an early source of pollen.  This year, we also discovered that our African sulcata tortoise, Mordecai, thinks it is a delicious treat too.