Nature at its best and most colorful

             For two weeks now, I have been struck by these beauties: japonica (firebush), forsythia (yellowbell), spirea, pansies, deep-red miniature nandinas, buttercups, heirloom double jonquils, berried hollies, hyacinths, dianthus and the understated pink blooms of loropetalum.

           Yellow coins of dandelions are blooming underfoot, a portent of future infestation, but purportedly bee havens. Hen-bit greens up the yard until the grass begins growing. Stars-of-Bethlehem are also visible in the grass—they may be considered weeds by some—and a couple of stonecrops peek from down low in the flower bed.

          The oxalis foliage is lush. Don’t they remind you of a shamrock? And thrift. How could I overlook the cascading thrift? Also, the redbud (Judas Tree)’s fuchsia is at its peak. And if that weren’t enough, the pear tree has a few blooms.

            An old begonia with several blooms now hangs on a staff outside the dining room window, but the half-dozen African violets with blossoms will stay inside close to the east and south windows.

            Oh, and the Japanese kerria is showing its yellow orbs after a good pruning earlier.

              After the couple of nights in the thirty-degree area this past week, I began moving my "greenhouse" plants outside to the east-facing porch. The concrete windowsills are good for small-to-medium sized pots. Short ladders, metal chairs, and other plant stands will hold the larger ones. I cut a long "arm" off a huge jade plant and stuck it in with another, less crowded plant.

            Nature can show both its sublimity in the instances of plants and birds, and its destructive violence as experienced in tornadoes, strong winds, late snows, and floods. This year, central Arkansas seems to have seen an inordinate spell of gusty winds. Pretty soon, though . . .  

         

             And March marches on.

 c 2018, PL dba lovepat press, Benton AR