Spring

[talon]

Spring is truly here.

We had our first rattle-the-windows, can't-see-the-street-for-rain, blinding-flashes-of-lightning, crazy-drivers thunderstorm this morning.

It's passed now, but what a romp it was while it lasted!

No threat of a tornado, that comes next. Even though we've already had a few tornadoes this year, it isn't quite tornado season yet. One week. In a week, that's when the tornado season typically starts.

Now, the rain has settled to a fine mist and there are puddles of water everywhere, slowly seeping into the thirsty ground.

My tulips are thrilled, and the late daffodils are gloriously blooming, my bluebonnets are showing color, the Indian Paintbrush and Indian Blankets are sending up buds, the new forsythias are blooming again after the surprise snow 2 weeks ago, and the redbud is starting to bloom.

The roses have new leaves and buds and the raspberry is fully leafed out. The chamomile, thyme, sage, basil, bachelor buttons, monardas, and oregano are nearing their first harvest of the year. The strawberries have teeny green berries. The dandelions have turned the lawn golden except where the wild violets are in bloom. The plantains are leafing out nicely, too and I have good king henry and coltsfoot growing wild among them. My rosemary survived the unusual amount of snow we got this year - looking ragged and sad but greening out. I'll prune it later this spring when it's sturdier and greener.

I'm now mowing weekly - early for me as I don't usually start the weekly mowing until mid-April instead of mid-February.

My tomatoes are blooming and I think I saw a teeeeeeny little green tomato. I'm not growing as many tomatoes as I did last year. This year, it's just a yellow pear tomato and a cherry belle tomato. I am growing peas, and they are up and climbing already. And the radishes and mesclun mix of lettuces are up. In fact, I think I can start harvesting the lettuces maybe as early as this weekend.