Finally ! ! Maybe Spring !

Well, there is finally a little evidence that Spring is nearly here. We still have some solitary patches of snow, but that should be gone in a few days. I walked around the gardens and found a few brave souls that had been buried by the recent snowstorm. It's amazing how resilient these early spring flowers are.

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Miniature daffodils ready to "pop".

Sturdy bleeding-hearts.

Snow-drops

While taking this picture of crocus, I never noticed what one of the bunnies had left nearby!

Ha, ha. Coming up are some other pretty crocus:

Below is a miniature iris - they are only about 6" tall!

And here is the Main Garden. What a mess!! I didn't do any Fall cleanup so this is what I've got ahead of me. There are all sorts of bulbs trying to grow up through that dead stuff so I'll be taking some days off later in the week and get my rear in gear.

Steve started some yard clean up and projects this weekend. He cut down a small dead tree and did a lot of trimming of various trees on the north end of our property. He loves working with his chain saw and extension saw. And he also raked some of the gardens along the house for me. He said it's so nice to finally get outside and be able to work. I had all kinds of errands to run and attend a party at my sister's house and then plant some more seeds in the basement.

I had ordered two brand new petunia types from Burpee this year. Normally, I don't order too much from them 'cause I feel their prices don't match the quantities. But, I just had to have "Baby Duck" and "Tie Dyed" - and planned to plant them in the new window box planters I've gotten from Kinsman. Most of the time I don't have a specific place in mind for plants when I sow them but "Baby Duck" was going to be what I saw out of my bedroom window this summer!

Some petunia seeds are quite small and companies will "pellet" them - coat them with a light colored water soluble substance to make them easier to handle. When I opened "Baby Duck" all I found was powder. They had been crushed in shipping and the same with "Tie Dyed". Boy was I pissed!! I had paid $5 for each package of 15 seeds. Rip off!! To make a long story short, Burpee sent me replacements and that's why I'm planting them late. They'll be a little smaller than the rest, but they'll catch up quickly. I can't wait to post pictures of my new planters filled with petunias!

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Weight loss update ! ! Now I've lost a total of 23 pounds! Only 17 more until I reach my goal.

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Some sad news. A few weeks ago "my" elephant, Delhi, died at the Sanctuary. She was very old, in her 60s, and died peacefully with her caregivers and sister elephants surrounding her. She was in hospice since January and with all the great care she got, suffered no pain.

Here she is, looking good and loving her last years at the Sanctuary. When writing about her, the people at the Sanctuary said she had "a gramma spirit" and was always gentle with her sisters. I'll miss hearing about her and seeing what she has been up to. ( Today I received an e-mail from the Sanctuary saying "Queenie" another elephant, had died suddenly, yesterday! Quite a shock! No illness or symptoms - what a sad month this has been.) But I'm happy that they both got to live out the rest of their lives in freedom, peace and dignity.

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All animals, except man, know that the

principal business of life is to enjoy it - and

they do enjoy it as much as man and other

circumstances will allow.

Samuel Butler (1835 - 1902)

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Bye for now,

Alyssa