Spring Bragging

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.'  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'  As it is, you boast and brag.  All such boasting is evil.  Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."  James 4:13-17


Ok, so today I'm just bragging (but I'm forgiven!), but I have to show you all my little garden endeavours and how they are panning out. 

Remember when I thought I was too early?

Well, my timing was impeccable for the first time ever in my whole life.  I am proud to report (brag) that my garden plants are actually bigger than my neighbor's for the first time ever.  And I'm proud to report (brag) that everything I purposely planted, and some things that I didn't, have all come up and are doing quite well despite my less than stellar gardening skills. 

I hope you're enjoying warmer weather where you are, and I hope a unseasonably late frost doesn't kill everything I'm so proud of (and like to brag about). 

My yard in photos...

This is about half of the "garden".  Notice the new and improved board border this year.  It will hopefully keep errant balls, dogs, cats, and boys from trolliping through the plants and then swearing they didn't know they were in my garden.  Cats can be that way, you know.  I like to think it makes it all look more Martha Stewart-ish, but Martha would have a stroke if she saw all my weeds.

The turnips are really outdoing themselves.  I actually thinned them (like you're supposed to) this year, and they appear to have liked it.  I don't personally eat turnips, but the husband likes to eat them like apples. 

Potatoes that I planted all wrong that are defying the odds.

Radishes that will eventually be too hot to eat.  I don't eat these either...  husband again.



Broccoli, which I will eat, but has never made it before the heat got it.  Look at the weeds!  Someone get Martha the smelling salts.  

The peas are cute with their little curly Q handle thingys reaching up.  None of these will make it into the house, as we eat them raw off the vine as quick as they will make. 

Two rows of carrots that we will dig up and feed to Roany Pony.

Volunteer pumpkins from the birthday party last year (pumpkin chunkin') that have sprouted by my lawn chairs.  They can handle the weeds if I don't forget and mow them. 

And the strawberries are blooming and making little tiny strawberries.  Birds usually get these before we do.   

And now for my flowers.  My daffodills and grape hyacinths are D-O-N-E.  I will probably mow them this week.  I had one tulip bloom this year, but it is also a shriveled mess.  But here's what I have this morning...

I don't know what it is, but it came from a wildflower mix.  Last year I had one.  This year I have five. 

Same goes for these guys...

And these...  They are getting kind of shrivelly.

I am most excited about this one.  I planted the bulbs last fall and couldn't really remember what they were until the bloom showed up. 

My weigela is also blooming today.  They are first year bloomers too for us.  I was hoping they were a darker pink, but hopefully the hummingbirds will still find them attractive.

I also like how my hand looks like it is 100 in this picture. 

And finally, my lenten rose, or hellebore.  It has been blooming since just after Snowmaggedon melted sometime around late February.  I've had it a couple of years now and it seems to bloom better every year. 

So maybe you're not having the best of weather today, or live in a colder climate than I.   Perhaps my bragging will bring a glimmer of springtime to your Monday.  I always feel like I'm coming back to life this time of year after being in hibernation all winter long.  I hope your spirits climb right along with my peas and raspberry vines.  And I hope that if you're inclined to brag today, that you too are forgiven! 

"'Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.'"  Acts 13:38