Spring came so quickly. Starting just after February, between children and grandchildren, there are five birthdays before the end of May. Time flew by. I barley had time to notice what the weather was doing when suddenly it seemed as warm as summer. We managed to get through birthdays and Easter. I love Lemon Cream Cake at Easter. I make mine in a cast iron skillet. I was never good at getting icing on smoothly so this not only taste great, it suits my lack of skill. The lemon cream filling goes between the two layers and I did not even get that even...but the flavor was wonderful. The neighbor's children hung pastel eggs from the tree in their front yard and this year their mom remembered to take their portraits in front of my beautiful full pink weeping cherry tree.
My neighbor on the other side, Betty, and I share a "friendship gate" that she installed in her large privet hedge. It is perfect as we run back and forth all the time with soup or hot bread or just to chat. Occasionally a bunny...a real one, not like the one she made for the children for Easter (pictured) will bolt across her yard and set the dogs to running or barking. Mine runs, hers barks. We cannot walk our dogs together because her dog barks and bullies my dog terribly. She has a Chiuaua, Abbey. I have a boxer mix, Lacey. Occasionally Lacey will go to visit Abbey but they do not play. Lacey just sits and stares in friendly confusion as Abbey barks furiously at her.
The Early Spring Garden
Betty, my neighbor and owner of the ferocious Chiuaua loves gardening. Betty has lived here in the valley much longer than I. She has gardened here for years and it is beautiful. She knows exactly how to incorporate wild flowers and keep them controlled. Whenever I have a question my garden expert is as close as next door. This year she was out early so I knew it was time to take inventory of what was growing, what needed repair and what did not make it through the winter. The first thing anyone notices is the wisteria on the trellis that stretches almost the entire width of the garden. My dear patient husband had trimmed it severely in the fall so it burst forth in bloom as soon as the warm sun of February touched the vines. My husband is nursing his tomato plants along as usual. Unfortunately he has not had as much time this year because of the early spring. There was much to do and it left little time for the indoor babying of seedlings. He may have spent a little too much time babying me. I, of course, took a walk around the garden to make a list of things for him to do. No, we do not grow honeydew melons...just honey do list. Pictured below are the untended, unedited previews of things to come. The pictures below were taken April 7, 2012 and as you can see things are much further along than usual for the mountains here in southwest Virginia. The canopy went up over the patio just after the pictures were taken. I will be filling pots of flowers for the outdoor tables soon.
The rose bush grows on the edge of the patio. The fine, spidery leaves of the Japanese maple just beyond is already in full leaf. I planted Lemon Verbena at the base to discourage cats from clawing it. Just beyond the fountain and the short lavender hedge is a tall Italian Cypress , one of two that separate the vegetable garden from the lawn. I am amazed at how well it does here in our sometimes cold winter climate. This was a very warm winter and it fared beautifully except for a bit of spreading on the top branches when the only heavy snow we had clung to the top. The birds build there nest within its protective branches that twist around the trunk providing complete coverage.
The Leather Leaf Mahonia grows well on the north side of the fence where it gets very little sun.
The Corkscrew Filbert or Contorted Hazelnut is better known as Harry Lauter's Walking Stick. Its twisted branches add so much interest to the garden in winter. That little spot of red in the background is my husband on his knees tending the broccoli. He set out 48 plants this year. If all goes well it will provide enough frozen broccoli for the entire year. The best part will be fresh broccoli all summer and wonderful broccoli cheddar cheese soup to have with fresh bread on rainy days in the spring. We love fresh broccoli.
The big old maple tree with the spooky face seems to raise his arms in a threatening gesture. He does not fool the birds nor the grand children. His branches offer great perches for the kids and nest for the birds and shade.
The lavender hedge was put in just two years ago to replace the one that had gotten too large and out of control. It is full of wayward grass and still has the protective mulch of fallen leaves. That is a fragrant job for a sunny day. Just inside the curve of the lavender hedge is a favorite place for the bunnies to play. They seem to think it is their personal park. We have been lucky in the past and they have not destroyed the broccoli. I think this year we will need a small fence to protect the vegetables. Of course, I could always allow Lacey to play there. Unlike the Pit Bull we had in the past, she feels compelled to chase birds, dig for voles and chase rabbits. 
The asparagus is already coming up strong and ready. We have harvested it earlier this year than in the past. With over forty crowns we will have enough for winter, also. The peonies run the length of the fence underneath the wisteria. they usually bloom large, deep pink balls of color in May, usually in time for Mother's day. I think they will be ahead of themselves this year. They already have bright, round buds.
Although diseased, this pink dogwood keeps holding on. It is forty years old. The dogwood is the state flower of Virginia. The mountains once bloomed white with them. One of the most beautiful sights I can remember is the light green background showing off white dogwoods and bright fuchsia colored redbud trees spreading over the mountains. It was a spectacular showing. The white dogwoods are sparse now but the redbuds have made up for it with their thickness and showy pinks.
The Mountains Bloom: this is why I love living in the mountains, the sight, the smell, the fresh air touching my face all declare renewal of life, the new spring.
