Oh man. That first picture. Anticipation. That is going to be a riot of flowers in a couple days.

The second is a butterfly I haven’t seen before. It looks a lot like a red admiral in the picture, but in real life was orange and not red.

And the third picture are apricots. This tree was a gift from my grandmother. When my I took my mother over to look at how well it was doing she questioned how I was going to retrieve the fruit (the tree is within a ring of boxwood hedges)? Therein lies a distinct difference in our gardening style. I might try an apricot or two if they get big enough, but mostly the raccoon and opossums can have ‘em. I’m very much a xeric guy and not really into fruits or vegetables. My mom and my taste pretty much only intersects on rose bushes.

Speaking of vegetables. I tried to plant a garden again for Stella and Etta. I got in some snap peas. Okra. Melon. Basil. 2nd day I couldn’t find most of the seedlings. I thought the dogs had trampled them. Then I came back to the basil chomped to the ground. Then I moved my seedlings right outside the house and all my ‘Silver Falls’ (Dichondra argentea) had been chomped. * sigh * Guess I need cages or something.

Oh well, it’s weeding season and everything’s starting to come in. I love this time of year. I always get a bit despondent in the winter, assured that nothing is coming back. Do you have that problem?