Spring

While I know there are many folks in the US who are still struggling in winter's grip, we here in the South are enjoying the beautiful beginnings of SPRING. Around my house many things are finally blooming. Daffodils, forsythia, spirea, flowering quince, and loropetalum. Yellow, cream, coral and fushia loveliness.

I love wandering around my flower beds and seeing new plants pushing up through the soil to greet the springtime sun. Usually at this time of year Theodore and I start taking daily walks around the yard to see what is new each morning.

I am ready to clean out my flower beds, getting rid of the remains of last years plants to make room for new beauties.

Gretchen Rubin, in her book The Happiness Project, says there is wisdom in spending money on the things that are of value to you. I value the plants in my yard. They give me quiet joy. Sitting in my room, looking out over my plants and bird feeders as I fold mountains of laundry, gives me enormous pleasure every day of the year.

In spring I see the new growth of perennials planted in previous years and I daydream about other things I would like to plant alongside them. In summer the hummingbirds come to visit my colorful flowers and the feeders that are outside my window.

In autumn the coleus still has brilliant color, but the leaves on the pecan trees are beginning to turn brown and fall to the ground, while busy squirrels try to store away their nuts for the winter.

In winter my bird feeders are constantly busy with black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, cardinals and finches. They are thankful I have left the dead stalks of the summer's coleus as resting places for them while they wait their turn at the feeders.

All in all, the long-lasting bang I get for each buck spent on my plants is plenty of reason for me to enjoy some guilt free shopping time at our local garden centers over the next couple of months. A wonderful happiness boost for me and a pretty yard for all of us to enjoy - what could be better?

This is a little layout I made one rainy day last week as I was dreaming of spring days to come. We still have a few cold nights in the forecast, but I am happy that soon life will be balmy and brimming over with color and gardening joy.