Time warp time: spring. We needed fires in the woodstove when I returned home from New Mexico. The bloodroot and pussytoes began to bloom in my absence, but then stood still. When we started to hit highs in the 70s and 80s this week, everything went into overdrive.

Three days: barely green/no leaves, very green/no leaves, GREEN! (Bonus: fuzzy cows.)

April 28: the weeds (Creeping Charlie and dandelions) flowered but little else.

May Day: Michael and I took time from various chores to wander and look at flowers. Daffodils and tulips in my yard. white hepatica, Canadian wild ginger, whole hillsides of trout lilies, Marsh Marigolds (and Michael braving the marsh), trillium set to bloom, all along the River Road. In our woods: purple hepatica, ramps (delicious!), and butternuts in bloom. Our neighbor’s yard: covered with pussytoes!

Seasonal delicacies include the first rhubarb pie, winter-cress with every meal, asparagus that never makes it inside the house, but is eaten warm from morning sun…until there is enough to share.

Cinco de mayo and the potted plants can survive outdoors; the tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and leeks are up; garlic has sprouted, potatoes peeking out; apples, plums, pears and cherries add to the riot; and the trillium now covers hillsides too. Michael has double spaded the garden and planted 700 onion sets. We need more!

The young stock grow in the blink of an eye.

Construction projects advance. We have a new back door!

And I get to tell about all this as this smiley child, who I get to chase around today, is napping. Otherwise, I would be in the garden, getting more dirt turned over and lettuce and radishes, peas and beans planted. Tomorrow. I am loving being with this wee sprout, who began walking on Easter Sunday (4/20), today.