Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems ~ Rainer Maria Rilke
I don't know about you, but I find that after weeks of dark, rainy weather I get a serious case of cabin fever. By the end of January I feel sluggish, my fingers get fidgety (the kind that even crocheting can't cure) and I just need to feel the grit of dirt under my nails and smell new growth again. Over the past month, spring has slowly been returning, and the earth is waking up again. As I get out in the garden, inhale the fresh air, soak up the sunshine and get my fingers dirty, I feel my mood lifting and my energy return.
Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day ~ W. Earl Hall
Today I took Bailey (our somewhat crazy Jack Russell) and my camera on a long rambling walk. That's the upside of living on the fence between town and country, a few minutes walking and I'm in the countryside, surrounded by farms.
My first stop was at this lilac tree along Bell Slough. It's always the first one in the neighborhood to bloom.
There where so many different water birds in the slough today, but I didn't have my birding camera with me, so I couldn't zoom in and get many good shots.
If you look closely on the ground you'll see flowers starting to bloom everywhere.
The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~ Henry Van Dyke.
The forsythia's are starting to bloom too!
The interesting things you can find growing on top of a fence post.
Little white flowers are popping up along the road.
I even found some pussy willows.
I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in my own garden ~ Ruth Stout.
For the past few weeks I've been getting into the garden every chance I get. I thought I knew every plant that was ready to bloom, but this tulip caught me by surprise.
My lilac tree (it's not a shrub, but a standard lilac) is showing it's first buds.
The first of the pink rhodo's are blooming and the other isn't far behind.
Daffodils and Periwinkle.
I love the early blooming Lenten Roses.
I'm starting to get a bit of a collection.
Every day brings something new.
The snowdrops are nearly finished blooming now, and so are some of the crocuses.
And I can take bug pictures again!
And finally, I've taken on another project this year. This garden shed, which was originally tan and brown (you can still see it on the top left hand corner) is getting a fresh new look. I'm in no big rush, so whenever it's a bit sunny and I have a bit of time, I paint another section. The colors are by Behr and are called Sandstorm, Farm Fresh and Cherry Cola. I rather like the names! :)
I'll end this post by saying I totally agree with Margaret Atwood when she said, "In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt"!