Today is a new day

This time of year, when we have had enough cloudy, cozy days, especially without any rain to better the gardening situation, the gardener looks for whatever signs may be seen.  Today is the day that the first jonquils bloomed, in one area a Campernelle jonquil, in another area a jonquilla simplex, what we call 'Sweeties'.  And they are so welcome.  We know we are fortunate to have escaped the severe weather problems in so many places, but there is also a type of 'winter of the soul', when so many overwhelming events happen, some to us personally and some to what seems like everywhere.  

Which makes these first jonquils so very special and welcome.  When you stop to think of it, most early spring flowers, especially in the jonquil/daffodil family, are yellow.  Yellow shows up so brightly.  We have pots of yellow pansies by the front door.  

The rest of our back garden is a mess, full of plants that need deadheading, winter weeds that need pulling, dead oak leaves that cover more than is needful.  We will get to all of those things, eventually.  But today, we have jonquils!