Just about everyone in the neighbourhood -- and I suspect far further afield -- mentions with justifiable pride how lush and beautiful their gardens appear. After early spring's cold, slow start nature has accelerated her growing/renewal process to the extent that we're caught by surprise at the early appearance of blooms we recall having a later appearance in most years.

No one is complaining, however, and everyone's surprise has turned to appreciation for the newly robustly emphatic presence of plants much taller and healthier in appearance than we usually hope to see. These are the kinds of surprises that we can always take more of.

The peonies are almost spent and that's a pity, but the roses are in full, bursting bloom, while the clematis vines still retain some of their lovely flowers. Rose mallow is starting to bloom, joining Canterbury bells in their burst of form and colour.

The ornamental crab apple trees have long since lost their blossoms, as have the magnolias, but their foliage has taken front and centre in bursting verdancy. Canna and calla lilies are in bloom, and day lilies are ready to burst forth. My neighbour's beautiful perennial dianthus shrubs are smothered with gorgeous little flowers and my envious gardener's heart is telling me to get out to the nearest plant nursery and see if I can emulate her show piece.

Hostas and heuchera have sent up their flower stalks; large and showy on the part of the former and delicate little bells held aloft in the summer breezes for the latter. The garden pots and urns are bursting with form and colour, the annuals showing off as is their wont. For the first week of summer, the garden beds are thriving beyond expectations.