Spring at Home

 Winter was long.... Well, it felt long even though we traveled and missed some of the more severe weather this year. Snow is pretty but we witnessed it and it's magic at least every other week for several months AND it was a lot colder than I remember winter being in previous years.

Then came the time when I just longed for the muted blues, greys and browns to give way to color already! I missed a yard full of bugs and critters, the color and smell of spring, softness in the grass and just sitting out there, basking under the blue sky and sunshine. I was OVER the whole 10 minute procedure of layering up and preparing to face (and somewhat enjoy) the cold elements. I wanted show my skin the great outdoors again!

Spring is definitely a "process" in Colorado though. You might know it by its common name: Bait and Switch.

At first Mother Nature throws a couple of 80+ degree days - to trick the humans and the plants. Then we plummet below freezing, endure a heavy blizzard or two, mourn the passing of spring's most courageous and ignorant blossoms and start to grow our hopes toward the second coming. (Also a false prophet!)

Early tulips do bounce back from this!

As April draws to an end though, there is more significant proof of life, color and a new season than there are 'surprise' weather patterns to disrupt it.  Almost overnight the garden becomes a magical wonderland, the pets trade in their hibernation coats and habits in favor of frolicking and sunbathing. Baby critters dart in front of traffic and frogs can be heard - a cacophony of mating calls that simultaneously make you smile AND make your ears bleed! 

She's alive! The air is filled with the smell of flowers and my energy is all-of-a-sudden on the upswing again. Hallelujah!

This is how I see my world right now....

Phlox

Tulips

Daffodils

Catmint

Cushion spurge (I think)

Phlox

Redbud

Redbud

Aspen flower with ladybug

False spirea

Chokecherry buds

Cherry blossom

Lilac

Apple blossom

For sure, there are still things in the yard that look deader-than-a-doornail. But it's early. If I've learned one thing gardening here for almost 20 years, it's this; Give. It. Time. I literally designed the garden to flourish and perform through October and that just means some things are intended to get a late start and steal the show after the spring blooms have peaked and wilted.

Patience is a virtue I never claimed to have but every year the garden challenges and teaches me to exercise my patience muscles just a little more... And it's good for me! What better place to just take a few deep breaths or literally stop and smell the roses?!