March has just begun and spring is definitely in the air. Mexican Plum and redbud trees are in full bloom, as are flowering quince, forsythia and one of our very favorites for the shade garden, Japanese rose (Kerria japonica). One of my indulgences, a camellia, is sporting beautiful, big red blooms. The hellebores have been blooming for the last two or three weeks, and just yesterday the Iceland poppies started unfurling their buds in shades of yellow, white and red.

On warm days (two days ago it was 86 degrees), bees are out in abundance on the rosemary, also in full bloom. I have already been cutting spears of asparagus and lo and behold, the rhubarb plant has stalks the size of pencils. Maybe one day I will actually have enough to make a pie.

Our grass has been showing signs of green. We have applied an organic fertilizer on the little bit of turf we have and on all of our beds.

Another sign of spring here – wind! It is so windy that even the birds have trouble flying straight.