Early Spring

Our "early spring" has arrived! (As in, everything listed as "blooms in early spring" is alive and kicking. Man am I ever glad to see these ladies and gents put on their spring finest!)

Forsythia (I was glad my neighbor was at work when I snapped this picture- it's HIS bush, and I was nearly pointing my camera in his kitchen window!)

Daffodils

Lungwort- this came from my grandma's yard. I pulled it up from our last house right before we moved- I felt guilty about not telling the new owners, but also was very sad to leave behind all the other plants from Grandma's yard. I knew they would be missed though- this is nearly invisible once it stops blooming. I've collected more of most of the plants I had to leave behind- I'm waiting to see if they survived the winter! If this lungwort ever dies though, I'll be so sad- Grandma's was composted (by a well-meaning friend who thought it was dead) shortly after I took a piece home.

Lemon balm- it hitched a free ride when I brought mint from Grandma's garden, and is threatening to annihilate the mint. I didn't think anything could out-crazy mint, but lemon balm can. It's earlier, faster, and bigger. And I have no idea what to do with it! I'm going to try sorbet this year. I'm not really big into drinking tissanes, but I'm sure that would be yummy too.

Other friends I've seen in the yard: crocosmia, day lilies, tulips, and lots and lots of weeds. I'm starting to look like a gardener again, with lots of dirt under my fingernails and on my shoes! Mimi out-dirts me, though: I have gloves :) I think she must roll in the dirt while I'm not looking, that child goes though SO many outfits these days! She was crazy excited to go outside before lunch today, and refused to put on clothes. I looked at the thermometer (43), looked at our deck (damp in places), looked at my child (nothing but a diaper, and pleading.) Out you go! Five minutes later she was at my side holding her outfit, her parka, and her shoes. Smart kid :)