The garden has a mind of its own this year – the columbine are a jungle of colorful blooms and lush green foliage – some have grown almost waist high!

The small dogwood trees are doing a great job of filling out and shading all the other plants. After losing our big saw tooth oak tree a couple of years ago, shade has been sorely missed and the garden suffered a bit because of it.

But now all is shady and cool and filled with chipmunk trails and faerie glades. Not too much rabbit damage this year. The hungry vixen has taken down that population to feed her kits. She and I came face to face this weekend. I was filling the hummingbird feeders early Saturday morning, when she popped over the rock ledge. Startled us both, but it was wonderful to see her and her foxy beauty – lean, with a gorgeous red coat. She trotted to the edge of the yard and went back to her den. Hope that she and her family will make this their permanent residence for a while.

The foxglove are blooming and the astilbe are beginning to fill out. The hosta look happy for the shade of the little trees. I will let the columbine seed pods dry and then harvest the seeds to share with friends and family.

I love sitting in the garden – watching the birds and the insects – the bumble bees are as busy as ever. The sound of the waterfall, rustling of leaves, dappled sun bouncing over the flowers – a soothing and relaxing space – filling my heart with spring.

I hope you have a quiet green space to visit and enjoy – and your heart is filled with spring too!