Bliss! We are basking in a lovely, luxurious, unexpected week of sunny, mild temperatures - mild? That's an understatement, we've had now three days of inordinately warm conditions, and expect, according to the Environment Canada forecast, another four days or more of plus-mid-20-degree C. daytime highs. Much above normal for this time of year.

We can see that the climbing hydrangea this year will put out its share of blooms. And our two magnolia trees, front and back, have already begun their gorgeous, gigantic magenta blooms, in competition with the cardinals, that faithful pair that serenade us morning, afternoon and evening.
The climbing roses are shooting out green wisps, turning to bright red, and the clematises are tentatively beginning to show green shoots. The lilies-of-the-valley have shot through the garden soil at the side of the house, and so have the hostas.

Yesterday my husband fitted the large canopy onto its steel frame on the deck just outside our breakfast room, and put up the surrounds, then assembled and placed the garden furniture on the deck and on our private little piazza at the front gardens. Earlier in the day before we set off for our ravine walk, he had slipped out for a few bags of peat moss, came back with them, and with three hanging baskets stuffed with stunning begonias, in orange, yellow and red, and another basket of lovely New Guinea impatiens.

And there's the bliss: anticipation of the gardens coming to life, and requiring tender administration. The satisfaction to be had in all of it, feeling the sun warm on our backs as we tend to the pleasures of attaining a certain look in our gardens, only to discover nature has her own plans, not to be deterred by our feeble ministrations.

Above all, the peace and relaxation in store sitting outside, feeling warm breezes, hearing bees at their work, watching butterflies flit past, listening to robins searching for worms and heralding rain showers while we read the newspapers, chat, and just settle into the balm of nature's perfection.