Yesterday I returned to Seattle from Virginia. I’d spent two weeks visiting family after speaking at the Maymont Garden Show. During that time, I was amazed by the flip-flopping weather. We went from 75 one morning to frozen ground by evening. We went from clear blue skies one morning to wind and rain that made it feel like we were driving under ocean waves. And, I watched spring begin to appear. Bare branches gave way to yellow forsythia, red maple, white pear and pink plum blossoms. Ground broke open as new green shoots appeared, hellebores blossomed and daffodils unfurled. As I watched these daily changes, I knew Seattle would be bursting at the seams with color given the spring awakening I enjoyed in Virginia.

After being awake for nearly 21 hours, sleeping only about 4 before that long stint of wakefulness, I enjoyed walking Shiloh with Bob in the “spring forward” evening last night. Our neighborhood was bursting with color. Everything from white to pink showered over the Pieris shrubs. Candytuft covered rockeries in white spring snow. Pink plums were fluffing in the breeze. And all manner of bulb were popping up. Spring and winter camellias were in full bloom. Hellebores were stunning. My daphne (and others like it) were filling the air with their distinctive fragrance. Manzanita blossom buds were swelling. Flowering winter currant pink clusters are drooping open. Bergenia pink appeared out of nowhere. Rhodie buds are swelling and Azaleas are filled with blossoms. Winter bloomers like witch hazel and garrya are forming fruit as flowers fade. Corylopsis and Corylus are showing off yellow flowering chains. Pussy willows are pollenating fuzz everywhere. Viburnum buds are swelling with a bit of pink that will bring forth even more brilliant fragrance soon. And, all of this appeared in just two short weeks.

Of course the nasties are also starting to rear their ugly heads. Fields of shotweed are in full bloom. Dandelions are arrayed in fresh green growth with brilliant yellow blossoms. Dock seedlings are growing rapidly. And, I’m sure other issues I haven’t quite seen are short behind these.

As I write this, I think of the things that are next up to be done in my own garden. The weeds need to be managed, epimedium and sword fern old growth needs removing before new growth emerges, last ornamental grasses need trimming down, twig dogwoods need a final trimming, and it’s time to do a few perennial divisions.

A gardener’s garden is never done!