Wildflowers
Over the winter I spread wildflower seeds in my wildflower garden, basically it’s a patch of untended ground given over to what most would consider weeds. The first bloom to appear after the Bluebonnets was a California Poppy. It was a nice surprise. I hope more show up, and I may order some seeds to give it company because it is an attractive bloom, and I think it would look nice in my front yard.
Another plant getting ready to bloom is my scarlet leatherwood, a gift from a naturalist friend. It really took off this spring with an aggressive growth spurt. I have no idea what it found in the soil and water to encourage it so, but whatever it was, the vine is growing and running, and it has buds. I was going to move it over the winter but lost my nerve and I’m glad I did. My goal now is to prune up the crape myrtles to give it more access to early morning sun. We’ll see how that goes over the summer.
Overall, the gardens are responding nicely to the spring weather as am I. It’s fun walking around, looking at the plants, pulling an occasional weed or clump of grass. It’s especially enjoyable in the cool of the morning with a little dew on the ground and the cats following me around to see what’s up. I feel like a painter walking across a canvas, putting in a dab of color here, encouraging a spot there, moving shade and light to highlight the things I want seen, offering rewards of water and attention to the responsive. It’s a nice life of equitable give and take.