Happy Easter! I hope the Easter bunny brought you many good things. Our bunny did not have any trouble at all in hiding eggs throughout the lawn! With all the rain we've been having, the grass is tall enough to hide the bunny, let alone eggs! I've been cleaning gardens at the farm. It is always a great feeling to get them tidied and ready to plant the annuals that will go into the ground in mid-May. Right now, the daffodils are carrying the show, along with the new growth of perennials. I especially enjoy the golden bleeding heart, in the Woodland Garden, and all the hellebores that are in bloom there. Each plant has such interesting flowers, and each is slight different from its neighbor. I love the hellebores, the Lenten Rose, as they bloom for 10-12 weeks, rivalling the primulas for endurance.

The Fairy Garden is quite cheery, with all the bulbs and primroses joining the wood poppies in bloom. Here and there are shy little fairies, some napping and some just enjoying the lovely spring weather.

The Cottage Garden just got a going over yesterday, but there is promise of lots more flowers to come, when the daffodils, guinea flowers, and primroses fade. I love the guinea flowers, as they remind me of the noisy guineas I had at the old farm. They would skulk around the yard and gardens, eating bugs. If a vehicle started up the driveway, the guineas would sqwauk and scold long before I could see it, their speckled feathers fluffed in annoyance as they rushed for cover.

I recently read a book given to me by a loyal customer, which I have enjoyed immensely. It is called The Invisible Garden by Dorothy Sucher. The "Invisible Garden" is the combination of all ones memories and experiences that one sees and feels when looking at the plants in the garden. That's why not everyone "sees" the same garden, even when standing at the same place. A flower or scent may bring back memories of grandparents, a special day, an exotic vacation, a romantic moment when we saw the same flower. Certain plants may provide comfort, others remind us of failure, funerals, or some other sad or unpleasant time. So, everyone "sees" a slightly different garden. This also explains why we are often dissatisfied with our own gardens, as we tend to recall each plant when we saw it as perfect, and in a real garden, it is difficult to have every single plant perfect at the same time.
I hope your garden is bringing you the joy and pleasure that mine is giving me at this Easter season. I don't think I can remember having a prettier one! Hugs, Carolee