This is spring...

This is spring....at least for today.

Forsythia, in bold spring bloom. Branches arching out over my old wooden fence. No frost to kill the buds this year. I love the natural look of forsythia. You can still prune and shape it but let it take on it's natural habit. Small, square or round forsythia all boxed in make me feel sad. It's like they didn't get a chance to live up to their potential.

These bright green leaves bring hints of what is to come. Yummy, raspberry deliciousness. Yes, they can become out of control, spreading beyond their allotted bounds. The sweet sun ripened berries make the extra work worth while. Hopefully the girls won't get to them before me this year.

We have a "problem"...

Example 1. This lovely collection of moss is on the top of my piano.

Example 2. This dinner plate full of moss.

Example 3. and this plate of moss have happily established residence here in the Rapplings' kitchen. I have two more planters also growing moss. My love of all things green and growing seems to have infected the smallest girls here with an uncontrollable need to collect every piece of moss they can find. But I seem to be able to keep these alive in my darkish kitchen much better than house plants!

Surprise!!!

Today I discovered that my shade garden is already in bloom. This lovely Pulmonaria that I added to the garden last year for it's fabulous spotted foliage, has flowers. I loved the surprise! I expected flowers but not until later in the spring. Happiness is a surprise in my garden today.

Pick one up for yourself May 7 -9th at TBG's Spring Plant Sale.