Lilacs, Pansies, and Petunias

Spring slowly marches on in Northern Vermont, and though we never seem to be past the last possible frost,  most intrepid gardeners have planted the delicate tomatoes, peppers and other expensive mediterianian fruits that we try to eck out of the short summer. I'm distracted easily from studo work in the spring. The large amount of pride I gain from growing the handfull of radishs that I could buy at the super -market for under a dollar seems worthwhile.

I tend to plant a lot of these cold weather crops when the ski season ends in april.  I dilegantly protect  the tender seedling from the varicous seedlings of the box elder and maples. It's just great to be out digging in the yard on those first spring days. Mothers Day comes along, the Lilacs Bloom and the spinach, beets and swiss chard are still way smaller than the dandylions and crabgrass growing in between the rows. 

Weeding is hard work and the hardest part of gardening for me is having to choose which plant deserve to live in the garden and why others have to go. I invariably plant too many seed and grow a hundered or so inch long carrots instead of a few less real ones. Im still learning to choose. My apppitete for things like wine far outpaces my appility to grow grapes; but gardening teaches me things about the world, and inspires me to get back to work.