A Hint of Color

"Spring" in Minnesota has been miserable.  It snowed on the third day of May.  Enough said.  After a really cold start to the weekend on Saturday morning, the rest of the weekend turned out better than forecasted and we spent time outside.  We went for walks, played at the playground and did some yardwork.  But what I've really been longing to do is start this season's garden.  Our yard looks so depressing right now.  The grass is nearly dead from last summer's drought, the gardens are bare and even our window boxes are empty since I'm waiting until planting time to replace the coconut fiber lining.  I had gotten a taste of spring when I was in New Jersey last weekend and I was desperate to put some color in my yard. 

Soren and I visited our neighborhood nursery and I asked what I could plant this early in the season.  I was pointed towards the flowers I could plant next weekend, maybe, and those I could buy now if I brought them onto the porch or into the house in the evening until the nights are reliably warmer.  I clarified that I wanted something I could plant now, as in today.  I left with enough verbena and ranunculus to fill the four large flower pots on our front steps, which I did as soon as we got home.

Even though my yard is still so dreary, looking at the bright colors displayed in my four potted plants makes me happy.  And then today I noticed that my flowers aren't the only signs of spring.  I spotted tulips poking up in my neighbor's yard and the first buds on our Royal Star Magnolia. I'm excited the spring may finally be reaching us here in Minnesota.