Finally the gardens are beginning to take on some semblance of shape and even heft. The peonies are coming up nicely as are the hostas. The peonies have already set some of their blossom buds in promise of a bright and colourful showing with the fragrance to accompany them. And speaking of fragrance, the lilies-of-the-valley alongside the house have produced their immature flowerheads that will soon burst into blissful fragrance as close to divine as possible.

The heuchera are up and columbine have begun their flowering ascent; lilies and irises are preparing to send out their flower heads. Our large magnolia at the front of the house is also beginning to bloom, sending neighbourhood bees into a tizzy of delight.

My husband had little option but to mow the grass in the back for the first time this season; it had grown so long. Birds are trilling from the trees, as ecstatic about the change in season as we most certainly are.

The snakehead fritillaria always one of the first of the seasonal flowers to entertain us in the rock garden are preparing to show their exotic heads. Forget-me-nots, scattered throughout the garden are present and accounted for, and the geraniums are sending up their large sprays of foliage preparatory to presenting with large bouquets of flowers. The Japanese quince has put out the buds of its lovely little bright orange flowers.

Chives and parsley are ready for picking. What more, at this juncture, could we possibly ask for?