It is a glorious time of year. Spring is my favorite. Promise and hope. The thought of writing a post about it crossed my neurons earlier and then Fairweather asked for pictures. Once again, the fickle finger points the way. My digital camera has a bad case of flatulence and refused to store any pictures. But do have some from last year at the same time. Lots of stuff not on them, however.

What the pictures do not show is the weeds. Not a real gardener, more of a messing-around-outsider. The yard has as many dandelions as grass. Nor do they show the moles. Nor the pollen. Lots of sneezing and running eyes.

Do like volunteers and freebies. The trees - pines, dogwoods, crape myrtle, magnolias, hollies, bridal wreath – are children of trees already around. The phlox started with just a couple of plants about five years ago. The pinks are from a couple of plants left by the previous owner. Lots of folks think the snowdrops and violets are weeds. I just move them where I want them. The flags are not in the pictures but have a nice patch of them. The town yard sale got hit by rain last year and got a whole mess of them for five bucks. Flags are one thing I might spend a few bucks on. Some of them in the catalogs are spectacular. And the moles-voles which ate up all the tulips don't like iris. Tried a couple of columbines almost free from the little nursery around the corner run by the disabled. Even though they are biannuals, they reseed and spread. Like that. Neighbor gave me some dinnerplate dahlias. They flourish, are spectacular summer show. All they need is staking. Gave some to friends and relatives. The clematis and the garnet climbing roses over the porch only need trimming.

And like stuff that is meant to grow here. No special feeding or watering. There are some azaleas around the front porch and they get by. But do not flower like the neighbor up the street who feeds and tends his. Voles ate up the tulips a friend gave me. Could fight them but would rather co-exist. The chrysanthemums don't like most of the places I try them. Need to find something else for late summer fun.

Planted some 'maters yesterday. Spring is a glorius time of the year.