When I am lazy, or busy or empty of clever words and ideas for the blog, there is the category of *What looks good now* to fall back upon. Above: Narcissus ‘Pink Pride’.
The recently captured images are sorted, not to tell a story but just by prettiness. Above: Viola ‘Raspberry’.
Sometimes that is enough. Above: Newly renovated metal window box hayrack on the shed with purple and green pak choi and two kinds of violas.
Some long shot photos are always taken to help me remember what is blooming when and how it relates to other things. Above: The long view across the top of the daylily hill and the left slope.
Some photos are snapped strictly as a date recording maneuver. Above: The knot garden quadrant edging of Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’, tulip foliage emerging nicely.
Some photos are kept to help us remember the bulbs that disappear later in the gardening year. Above: Yucca gloriosa ‘Variegata’ and Crocus ‘Pickwick’.
Some just make me smile. Above: Emerging bronze fennel, Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’ in the gravel garden.
Some are full of fragrance and fun in trying different points of view. Above: In the raised box planter, wallflowers, Erysimum ssp. red and yellow, don’t know the cultivar name.
If only pictures could let you sniff deeply, you could understand the wonders of the wallflower blooms.
But don’t sniff anything that is humming! Above: Welcome visitor to the grape hyacinths that have colonized the property, probably Muscari armeniacum?.
It is nice to see that we are not the only ones enjoying a fine and unnaturally warm spring day outside. Above: Downy woodpecker.
It is all good. Above: Red bellied male woodpecker.
Frances
Fairegarden 
The garden is looking good. There is something special about March for sure.
Beautiful spring photos Frances! We are getting there with early daffodils ready to open.
Eileen
Hi Frances – great tips on keeping track of blooms in the garden. Ones I will use this year as new things are popping out of the ground all the time. This is our first spring in this new garden and to my delight I discovered snowdrops and some crocuses blooming in unexpected places. I’ll photograph them so I have a better record – once the hostas come up, they will be covered and I will forget.
Good morning Frances I love checking in with your blog everyday. Your garden is always ahead of mine about two weeks. Your pictures this morning are extremely exciting because I know whats coming in my own garden shortly. I went out yesterday looking things over in the garden and could not believe, when I saw all my rosemary plants still alive and looking good. The winter here was that mild that they all returned. As you can guess that made my day. Love your spring pictures they warm the heart. Thank you
Good morning, Sandy, thanks so much. I have been posting on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for several years now. That is the schedule that works best for me. Hooray for your rosemary! When I saw that it also returned reliably here, with proper siting, it was used in many more ways in the garden. Clipped, it can make a very fragrant low hedge. Happy Spring! I added your url to your comment sign in. You need to remember to do that!
Frances
Ah, Frances…I’m trying so hard this year to keep a record of what is blooming where and when! You’ve reminded me that I need to get out of the greenhouse for a bit and take a photo tour of the gardens today. Love your woodpecker images, and the planting of violas with pak choi–lovely! Violas are just the most cheerful wintertime bloom, I think. Have a lovely day in the garden!
My dear, Truer words could not have been spoken. “It is all good” and lovely. The Erysimum ssp. is a wonderful color~I noticed buds on mine. I am so glad they survived the wet winter. The warm weather this week shall hasten spring and even more delightful blooms to your garden. See you soon. xoxoxogail
Indeed, it IS all good, Frances. I’m so glad to see these things blooming in your garden now. That means it won’t be long for us up here in the north! Love the pak choi with the violas!
Everything looks wonderful…blooms and birds! So much vibrant color …the strong orange and yellow of the wallflower gives off a mid summer vibe since that is more when that color combo seems common. I’m not real familiar with wallflowers but based on your great pictures and your description of the fragrance, it seems I should be. Any tricks to cultivating them?
Also, since I’m in question mode…are some of your hellebores in full sun on your daylily bank?
You bet it is all good. Those pansies look great wtih the bok choy. What a preety combo. We had our first red tulip yesterday. Yay…. A nice rain last night. Yes, it feels like spring here too.
Love your violas…I am growing violas from seed and can’t wait to see them bloom in about a month…
How sweet to see Yucca and Crocuses planted together! That’s a beautiful combination. Everything is looking healthy and vibrant in your garden!
So wonderful to see all the beautiful blooms (and birds) in your garden! I really like the color on those daffodils – so unusual. The long shot of your garden with all the bulbs dotted around makes me smile.
I’ve never seen a red and yellow Erysimum, it’s gorgeous! I grow a native variety here, but it’s plain yellow. I have to ask, how do you like your suet feeder pictured at the end of the post? I’ve been looking at the similar bird house (the acorn style with the post). I like the look, and figure it should be quite durable in the garden, and blend in quite well with all of our oaks, but I haven’t yet taken the plunge!
Very beautiful blooms and birds, Frances. Spring has really sprung in your garden, plentiful and colorful.