Not much to look at yet, but it's a start, in the gardens. All the rain we've been receiving and the days of full sun that invariably follows, have encouraged all growing things to present themselves above the winter-tired soil. The first of the grape hyacinths are beginning to bloom, modestly but much appreciated for the tiny bit of colour they treat us to.

We had wonderful weather yesterday with full sun, not a cloud in the sky and a warm atmosphere, so unlike the day before. The temperature heaved itself all the way up to 18C yesterday and we made the most of it. My husband spent hours outside, de-thatching the lawns, raking them, collecting winter's debris, and finally fertilizing. And our ramble in the ravine was restful and comfortable at that temperature when even the wind seems like a balmy kiss of nature.

Today, again, a clear blue sky and a warming sun, though we've lost about eight degrees of warmth.   Who could possibly complain, though? Today my husband set himself the task of liberating all of our garden pots from their collection point and the tarp that covered them. He set them all in place in anticipation of planting them with colourful annuals within the month, and cleaning up all the dropped soil from where they stood, to shovel it into the nearby gardens.

Everything is beginning to take on a hopeful, neat and tidy aspect, as though even our personal landscape is eagerly anticipating summer, colour, texture, fragrance, freedom.

Some of the peonies are beginning to poke their bright pink shoots out of the ground. The lilies and the irises had a head start, and the heucheras seem to recover as soon as the snow recedes; but now other perennials like bleeding hearts, Canterbury bells, bluet and Ladies Mantle have begun to erupt and even a few of our treasured plantain lilies (hostas) are beginning to sprout from the soil. Each new sighting is exciting for the prospects of the garden coming to full flower.

Our magnolia trees' flower buds are beginning to swell and it won't be long before their blossoms open. The same for rhododendrons and roses. I can hardly wait.