Spring. It is spring here in North Carolina. (Or at least in my little acre of it). The daffodils are blooming, as are the jonquils and the forsythia. The Carolina Jessamine has buds on it and very soon will be bloom with its intoxicating scent.


Thankfully the flocks of grackles and red wing black birds have headed north and have left the bird feeders to my regulars and some overwinterers who are still hanging around, the Juncos, the Purple Finches and the Gold Finches. Soon the Gold Finches will change into their brilliant breeding plumage and head east to breed. Of course you all know how I feel about that. I head out into the garden in the evenings to see what surprises are poking their brave heads above ground. My daylilies are going gang busters as are my asiatic lilies. I have yet to go out there and "waken up" all my beds, a process where I go and remove the heavy cover of dead leaves and clip back all of last years dead stems and leaves but when I do I am sure I will find more surprises. The crocus have already bloomed and died



and I am next waiting the brilliant purple of my miniscule Dutch Iris. The other night I sat at a stop light and watched in wonder as a flock of birds miles long flew overhead heading North. I have seen several flocks of Canada Geese fly over the down town area but they are our local flocks. I am waiting for that flock flying through, honking as they do, heading back to Canada. Then my heart will leap, and I will like a mad thing head to the garden center and begin buying plants like I don't have a budget. When I will be setting out tomato plants and hoping that there isn't a late frost. I love this time of year, it is a time of hope, of new beginnings, of surprises and my favorite "I don't remember planting that!". Spring, my favorite time of year the world awakes!.