Finally, the spring garden is beginning to take shape. It is actually beginning, once again, to look like a garden and for us, that provides a feast for our garden-hungry eyes. Yesterday was a pleasant weather-day, though the mosquitoes, as encouraged by the rain as all growing things have been, are beginning to flaunt their dreaded clout.

Yesterday it was time to turn attention to the backyard, to fill up the garden pots we've got there, after having finished planting all the annuals in the far more numerous pots and urns at the front garden. So up came the winter-stored sweet-potato vines (just the potatoes, minus the vines, of course), the over-wintered begonias, the Canna and the Calla lilies, to be planted now that the danger of frost is minimal.

Almost everything but for the potatoes and a few of the begonias have already sprouted in anticipation of their days in the sun and rain and fresh air. Although, once planted, there is nothing yet to see and admire, it shouldn't take too long before all the plants begin to take shape. Except -- I must amend that statement -- for the ipomea; they seem to take their time before they sprout, but once they do they make up for lost time in the rapid growth of the resultant vines.

The rock garden is looking fairly decent, with all of the hostas beginning to take their semi-mature shape, the Ladies Mantle appearing here and there, along with Canterbury bells, heuchera, bergenia, hens 'chicks, periwinkle, and creeping phlox.

The backyard Magnolia is still in bloom, and the peonies have set their large, luscious buds, promising their usual fabulous blooms in short order. The clematis vines are progressing nicely, and the roses too are beginning to set their blooms for a June showing. Nothing to complain about in the garden, lots to appreciate!