Today is the 5th of May. Yesterday was Star Wars day and Sunday shall be Mother’s Day. We are now nearly two months into spring and today, for the first time since March 21st, I feel as if I can completely relax and stop worrying about unexpected cold and snow. Just a week ago, we had another storm that left its mark on all the emerging growth. The tulips were once again flattened as were the alliums but worse yet the fritillarias. I would love one season where these bulbs of the lily family were left unaffected. So it brings me to the inspiration behind the title of this post.

Three weeks ago, we were bracing for a major spring storm that promised blizzard like conditions and a LOT (feet) of snow. It would start off as rain and then change to snow and though I was secretly praying for just a little accumulation, Jack Frost had other ideas. I went to Home Depot to get some items which I thought would protect the plants. This project consisted of some six foot bamboo stakes, heavy duty clips and some fabric (or what I thought was going to be fabric but actually turned out to be some sort of nasty plastic material). I got it home and got to work at around 5:00 p.m. The winds were picking up, the azure blue was quickly being replaced by foreboding gray and hints of moisture fell from the sky. I was working against the wind to try and create tents of sorts around the alliums and other plants. I wrapped some of the plastic around my cobalt blue planter that is home to my peony emerging from its winter nap. Now for the fritillaria. They are against the right fence so I took some slats and leaned them against the fence clipping some of the plastic and this actually created a nice barrier I must say. I then proceeded to take some buckets and turn them upside down over some other plants (viola odorata and other emerging plants I did not want to get crushed by the pending snow) and overall I looked at my work and thought, okay, this just may work.

Let me tell you about spring snow in case you live somewhere that prevents you from the experience. Each flake that is hurled from the sky is laden with five gallons of water. This of course is hyperbole but you get the point. Heavy, wet, spring snow made quick work of my little plastic make shift tents and soon with the weight of the snow, they slid down their bamboo supports leaving me to imagine what they were doing to the bulbs and emerging plants underneath. I decided to free my mind of worry as there was nothing I could do until the storm passed which on the by and by took over three days. When all was said and done, there was indeed about two feet of snow on the ground and it was on a Sunday I took this photo of what I dubbed ‘my beautiful spring garden’ from the kitchen window. The snow was blowing hard and as you can see in the image to the right, it created a beautiful water droplet effect. I posted this photo on Facebook and the following conversation ensued:

Friend: “The flowers are so colorful.”

Me: “Aren’t they though! Gotta love those white ones in particular…. they are very prolific this year.

Friend: “Yes, the white ones are stunning.

Me: Soon, before you know it, they will simply melt away into the landscape… disappearing almost as quickly as they arrived. But, for now, I shall enjoy them in all their bounty.

Hence the inspiration for this post’s title.

Now, let me say this. The snows have come and gone and today is actually May 18th! I have been working on this post for nigh on four weeks. Perhaps — and I have used this excuse in the past I know — it is because the garden beckons constantly. Take this moment in time for example. I vowed to used my lunch hour to work on this post with the hopes of completing it or at worst nearly so. So, I ate my left over pizza, had some tea and then looked out at the garden. Oops. I should not have done that. this grass is growing too high at the edge of the patio. I best get out the trimmer and trim it and perhaps work on the grass coming up around the paving stones as well. Thankfully (if that is how I should view it) the line for the weed eater came to an end and subsequently so did my grass trimming adventure. “Look at these dandelions near the steps!” “And the dried up debris in the herb bed?” Started cleaning those. On my way back from depositing dandelions and debris into my trash bag, I noticed my laptop looking lonely as if to say “Hey, you promised ME some quality time.” “Yes, I did. I am sorry.” I sat down and started to type.

I have so much to share and as I look up and view the beauty I have created I am at peace in my own personal heaven. So many things are coming up! First, I moved my bellis perennis (lawn daisies) and they are prolific! The Barbra Streisand rose is leafing out nicely! The lilies are coming up! The Flanders poppy seedlings are growing at a pace! Viola seedlings are abound and those I put out at the end of last season are coming back in full glory!

I could go on but if I do, I will never finish this post. So, for now, I shall say goodbye for now and until next time, happy gardening and many blessings to all who read this.

In my next episode, I will focus on reiterating some entries I created in my on line garden journal including some more detail on the Bellis Perennis project!

Thank you for reading.

Humbly, Benny

And now some photos of what is blooming now: