Aside from the early-bird daffodils and the roses that never really stopped blooming all winter in the protected back garden, signs of spring are now prevalent. The Mexican plum is covered with buds. I’m excited about this because for the first four years it either didn’t bloom or just had a handful of flowers. I guess it’s finally gotten big enough to put on a better show. (Ditto for the redbuds: my two young trees haven’t bloomed much, but this may be the year for the larger one.)

The Amethyst Flame irises are in bud out front, and new perennial growth everywhere is pushing up through the spindly stems of last year’s growth that I haven’t had time to cut back yet. I meant to trim the garden last weekend, but I cut back a neighborhood-maintained perennial bed instead and didn’t have time for mine. I must do it this week. I really need to repaint the front fence as well, before the plants grow too high and the sun gets too hot. So much to do, so little time. . .

The beautiful weather and signs of spring call to me, but I’ve been mostly inside yesterday and will be today as well, nursing a bad cold. It’s frustrating to feel crummy when the garden beckons. At the least I’ll spend time relaxing on the porch—hey, maybe my cold is a good excuse not to work but just to enjoy the garden.