Proof of spring (part III)

Our backyard Garden...

On February 8th I took a few pictures of our lettuce, and spinach beds.  Ten days later I saw that our little Frisee was trying to grow up and bolt.  Naughty little rascal.  If lettuce puberty isn't a sign of spring, I don't know what is.  (I should add that I have no idea if any of this is horticultural-ly accurate.  I have actually no clue when frisee bolts, and if that means the weather is warmer, or it just wanted to.)

The dill plant has a similar story to tell...  The first picture was taken on the 18th.  Imagine my surprise (easy to imagine, this is my first year at gardening.  Everything is a surprise) when just four days later on the 23rd I find dill flower buds!  

My orange tree is preparing us for the most dramatic display of spring.  A display she has been working on for a while now.  She had a very hard summer, as did most things in this part of the state.  The winter was a time of quiet rehab.  We didn't know if she was going to make it, or give up.  Patience, like in all things, applies to gardening as well.

I was very excited when I saw this.  Tiny little points of life.  Covering her outstretched branches.  Some to be flowers, others to be leaves.

Ten days later this is her progress.  Leaves, buds, life.  Its spring.  Right here in my back yard.  The smell of orange blossoms used to fill Phoenix's air every spring. As the sun set the perfume would be so heavy it was almost too much.  Most of the valley has lost its heady aroma as the orange groves gave way to housing developments.  I am very grateful that I will be able to recreate the sent of spring, on a small scale, here.  Our contribution to the valley.

In the next few weeks my broccoli and lettuces will no longer be here for me to harvest.  (I think)  But lets not think about the end of spring.  Spring is the reason Arizona is so full of people.  Spring is the season that warms the hearts of even the most cynical (pointing huge finger at me here) Arizona residents.   I may lament my time away from the Pacific Northwest.  (I may dramatically refer to my time here as a 'prison sentence'.)  As spring sets up home in these parts, its hard not to fall in love just a little bit.

And lastly I wanted to show you this little guy.  He isn't a sign of spring.  He showed up in our carrot bed last fall.  Waiting with all the rest of the bed quietly all winter.  Now he is stretching his big red leaves out.  He is doing a horrible job of camouflage.   I am going to let him stay here for a while.  I think he is so cute.  Much cuter than his well behaved brothers living in the appropriate lettuce bed.

Here's to all of us feeling the spring in the air, and feeling the love that comes with it!