The Hope That is Springtime

Hilda Van Netten
1 day ago
3 min read

5:30 seemed to be an appropriate time to wake up this morning. When I looked out the windows, the gardens were calling to be admired. It was only 10°C, but with a sweater on, it felt just fine. Much better than waking up to 25 degrees.

Tulips are on their last legs now. And the crabapples have started to bloom. Every plant has its season.

We all have our seasons.

The back yard was looking peaceful and hostas have that no-slug look still.

These jack-in-the-pulpits decided that this is where they want to grow. I am learning to allow plants to find their places in the borders. Not a lot of competition for them here.

The tomatoes are wondering what happened to the sun. It has been MIA this spring.

Same with the Mesclun mix greens. These outside have a much denser leaf than ones grown inside the greenhouse. Looks like they need weeding!

Around to the front yard, the cat was keeping watch as it usually does.

Overnight, the rains cleaned off many tulip petals. All of the yellow ones went first.

One benefit to this cloudy spring has been that everything transplants very well. I trans-planted these cucumbers mid-week last week and they have taken off. So far, they are very happy in their new spot. Don't you love Ted's cucumber racks? I've never had to think that something he's built will break.

Bleeding hearts' stems must be unusually strong.

Here's some evidence of last night's rain. Aren't these lovely tulips?

Our trilliums have now morphed from white to pink. It's a signal to pollinators that they have been pollinated.

Near the front ditch, things aren't as pretty as some would like. I put black landscape cloth over last year's mulch to give our Vif d'Etampes pumpkins a fighting chance in their new home. If a goes well, in a month you won't see the cloth. They seem to be very happy there, which is a surprise to me. That soil is not as fertile as the rest of the gardens. They started growing immediately after being transplanted.

Crabapples.

I didn't notice that the currants have started to form until I looked at this image. I think red currants are an under-rated fruit. There are very few recipes that call for them. This past year, I found this very tasty recipe - Red Currant Cake. I use frozen red currants and it works out well.

In one of our re-wilded areas, a little new friend popped up this spring......

... and some old friends will be blooming fully for Wednesday's picking. 45 years ago this weekend, Ted & I had our first date. As we walked by Glanmore House on the way to Belleville's rose garden, I picked my first ever lilies of the valley. Every year their scent brings me back to that evening.

This calls for a mid-post quote:

“I no longer believed in the idea of soul mates,

or love at first sight.

But I was beginning to believe that a very few times in your life,

if you were lucky,

you might meet someone who was exactly right for you.

Not because he was perfect,

or because you were,

but because your combined flaws were arranged in a way

that allowed two separate beings to hinge together.”

Lisa Kleypas

Circling back around to the front, garlics - the ones that did come up - are looking healthy. I made a mistake and put too much straw on them. Some didn't make it.

Rhubarb that we were given last year are happily producing this spring. Nothing like a secret rhubarb patch.

Some blooms have just started this week and these are nearing the end of their 2025 bloom. I am sad that forget-me-nots are almost done. They bring me back to my grandma's garden around 65 years ago. I can still feel her hand holding mine.