Spring comes to Shady Acres

Our little Star Magolia, blooming her heart out.
This little bush was totally covered with a big, hard snowbank.  Certain Man didn’t know whether she would make it, but it is blooming like crazy, and he is pleased.

There are only two of my tulips showing any color yet.
But just you wait!  Next week, we will have an abundance of pretties.

Our lighter colored Daffodils are almost over, but these big, bright yellow ones are doing just fine.

Caught in the corner between a raised bed and the blacktop, this volunteer Pansy is showing off.

I wish I had a picture in the full sun, but this is our weeping cherry tree.  It hangs its branches down like a bridal veil and is awash with beauty.

Our Tulip tree has never looked so good.  The hard winter must be good for it. 

There are few flowers that smell so sweet as a tulip tree’s extravagant blossoms.  It is such a “spring time feeling” to stand down wind of this tree and catch the full benefit of the heady perfume.

This is the real sign of Spring at Shady Acres.  Certain Man is working in his garden.  He planted potatoes and carrots and lettuce and peas today.  He planted a few more asparagus roots to join his little patch.  He hoed around his precious Rhubarb plant and calculated where his tomato plants would be this year.

Middle Daughter is explaining to her daddy what a little seed planter does.  She wishes they had one to plant the carrot seeds.  Certain Man is not convinced.  Actually, both Middle Daughter and Youngest Daughter, who is home for Spring break, have been busy out there helping him.  Youngest Daughter is hoeing the weeds out of the pole bean row between the poles.  She just came into the house with a cut toe, but insisted that it wasn’t too bad and headed back out again.  She has been, of course, barefoot in the chilly April dirt. Both of these girlies love the earth, love to garden, and are willing helpers when they once get started.  It is a great boost to Certain Man who loves to garden, but enjoys having help doing it.  (I didn’t get a good picture of Youngest Daughter, so I guess I will have mercy on her and not put any on.)