Just came in from the garden. I am not sure why I say garden. I don't really have "a" garden. I have several smaller gardens and random collections of green things :) I am at this time reclaiming my little corner of paradise from the weedy shrubs, sumacs, crabgrass, etc that had taken over while I did not live here and while I recovered. It's an almost hearrtbreaking task to remember "ahh, this is where I used to have roses" or whathaveyou, all the plants so lovingly selected, carefully planted and dearly tended gone. But at the same time, there is the joy of the new plans, the improvements, the things I have learned and yes, those beloved survivors of this and that... It has been wonderful to spend evenings with my hands in the dirt, nails breaking, bits of plant stuff in my hair, all that. I nearly broke down in tears to see one of my most prized plants had made it through and I was absolutely certain it was dead - it lives!!! (Gentiana septentrionalis - a stunning, rich blue flower that makes cobalt glass look washed out and dingy - absolutely gorgeous!), the pink lilies of the valley that I lusted after for two years and got one year for my birthday, the poeticus daffodils that I wrangled from the property next door, before the new neighbors bought and decimated the lot, the lilies of the valley from the same place and the lilacs too... the Solomon's seal that I planted just hours before I learned that I might not be able to carry my daughter to term, much less even to the next month... and so many others :) So many plants were rescues from the garden center where I worked - end of season leftovers no one wanted (my quince!), plants that people dug up and brought back because they are idiots (the garden center had a lifetime guarantee on shrubs and trees - morons) and that beast of an elecampane!!!! whom I dearly love I might add. The mugwort too, lol. Ain't nothing gonna kill mugwort :) So it has been an emotional roller coaster of sorts in my plant collection. A joy, nontheless, to be well enough to work the soil again and to grow healthier by that very act. Tonight I planted lavender (Hidcote) and common thyme. In a fit of whimsy, I planted little pockets of sunflowers here and there on the property (Autumn Beauty mix) and we'll see what comes of that. I have been transplanting the heck out of my masses of bee balm, which, although it grows abundantly here, I cannot bear to toss extras on the compost heap :) Planted some garlic earlier in the week and some other herbs. my wee altar is half circled with pansies. The Quince tree is still blooming its butt off to the delight of the local hummingbird of which I have seen two - buzzing like tiny airplanes as I worked in the herb garden the other day :) Am getting a late start on the veggies - don't ask! So that has been what has been happening here. As I told my very best friend yesterday, there is that moment at the end of winter where you feel as if you are holding your breath, just dying to get out and work in the garden and it seems you will never get to do so and then spring hits and BAM! you are dead behind on everything!! That's me right now...:) And got an offer from mum's friend up the road, to come over and get any plants I liked :) which means more violets :)!!!!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend :)...

Love,

niamh