The sweet aroma of tiny, white wild plum blossoms delight my nose as I step out the back door. They are now in their glory.

Just a little distance away, many clumps of wild violets tip their sweet faces to the sky. The orange day lilies are just green leaves right now, but soon they, too, will be showing off their bright colors.

The apple blossoms are still tightly curled, but they will soon open, allowing their sweet aroma to drift through the backyard.

Everything is alive and giving their best.

I even found a purple trillium under an evergreen tree out back of the goose pen. They don’t smell so great, but they are beautiful. Several clumps of reseeded purple or white pansies are also poking up in my perennial gardens.

And of course, the lilacs are getting ready to send their lovely scent throughout the side and back yards, just in time to pick and place on graves for Memorial Day.

The azaleas are at their beautiful, deep pink, and the rhododendrons will soon present their clusters of lighter pink.

Wild flowers are everywhere, right now, and soon, the planted irises, Asian lilies will blossom, just as the daffodils and tulips are now displaying their beauty.

Later in the summer, multi-colored sunflowers of all sizes will peer over the roadway and stand tall in various gardens. Miniature sunflowers will grow from the tops of two half-barrels, and calendulas, nastursiums, cosmos, and zinnias will flounce their earthy and pastel colors everywhere

I can plant them. Just so beautiful!

While the flowers are showing off, I’m hoping that this year, many of my vegetables will do the same.

About half the vegetable garden is planted. The rest should be done within a few days. Then it will be time to start gathering the very early planted lettuce and spinach for a healthy and very local salad.

Some of the asparagus are ready to harvest and eat, and the rhubarb will soon be providing the first, fresh, local pie filling of the year.

Although most early gardening seasons are pretty much the same, they never fail to amaze me and make me feel so thankful.

Every season is new and every flower and vegetable is new as well. They are all so wonderful.

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