April 23

As if overnight, the daffodils and grape hyacinths blossomed forth in a profusion of yellow and purple along our walkway and on the edges of the knot garden in front.

We’ve been watching the daff shoots for over a month, initially seeing them only after having removed the snow drifts enough to locate their small yellow-green blades desperately in search of sunlight and warmth. In the shady spots of the house, the buds are still closed and leaning over from their own weight, though there are indications of the yellow petals that will emerge tucked protectively within the outer sepals.

The hyacinths simply make me smile, each seemingly delicate stalk host to dozens of bell-shaped tiny purple clusters, almost grape-like in both appearance and in odor. Hence the name, of course. The bees seem to prefer them, now that the crocuses and snow drops have run their course.

Spring is giving way to the yellow hues, pinks and purples, as is the norm this time of year. Soon the azaleas will blossom all pink and yellow in various shades. The periwinkle (Vinca minor) is also showing evidence of putting forth its small five petal purple blossoms, and I like these particularly, because they look tropical to me, similar to the way in which hibiscus flowers are tucked within the deep greens of its verdant parent plant. Occasionally, the Vinca will produce clusters of white flowers, and I wonder if it is a simple genetic mutant, a variant absent of pigment to the purple norm.