Spring is Upon Us!

Bleeding hearts. 

Crocus!

Spring fleurs.

Tete-a-tete narcissus and violas.

Grape hyacinth, parsley and clovers!

Here I am in Alaska with clients already asking me to come by to check out their gardens and to start spring cleanups!

This started in MARCH! In a thousand years, I'd never dream that I'd move to Alaska (in the first place) and then I'd be gardening in March? That's just whack.

But, here I am and here is spring and I'm looking at bright blue sky and it just rained for a while. There is no snow - some of the ground is still frozen where it's shady, but otherwise I've got green plants shooting up here and there out in the yard. My bulbs have gone mental - the foliage is incredible, no flowers yet, but it's just so satisfying to see life out there!

The willow trees have bloomed, so I have fresh pussy willows in on of my pots outside. I have to bring them in at night because it's still getting down below freezing, but by mid-day it's been in the 50s. And the bright, hot sun of Alaska is here in full force.

We have SO much sunlight already. The sun is rising at about 7am, setting at 9pm! That's a lot of sunlight and I THRIVE when it's sunny. My mood is elevated and my energy level is off the chart.

By mid-June, at the solstice, we'll have a full 22 hours of sunlight. Truly amazing. And weird!

Yesterday I cooked and gardened all day. Had 7 friends come by and we ate together and laughed and cooked and generally had a wonderful time.

The last person left about 7:30 last night after we took turns playing the piano. It was great - so many talented people around the world.

Languages heard yesterday in my house included Japanese (an 11 year old son of my friend is fluent), Russian, German, French and Spanish. These are world traveler types and so very interesting. Real estate people, a teacher, baker, 4 students, musicians, a non-profit director, and a massage therapist.

And moi. A little bit of everything and nothing in particular. I say I'm a gardener and designer, but in reality I've been thinking a lot about getting back to my research roots. I'm fascinated by the climate issues of the day and how it's affecting the ocean critters. Big shifts are already happening in habitat and migration patterns. Bird species are showing up from Asia and the water in Cook Inlet was not even that cold on Sunday when we were there. I was, of course, stomping around in the water with my boots picking up interesting rocks.

So, I'm sort of at this odd point in my life and career. Knocking on 50 and again asking myself what do I want to be when I grow up?

I've got ideas of getting my law degree to become an advocate. Another idea is to become a conductor for an orchestra. Or get back into piano more. And then I do love cooking, so I think about working in a restaurant as a sous chef. Or then I think I might like to have a small business where I do a five course meal for 6 people at my table on Saturdays and charge a fixed price. And then I think about leading trips again to teach about conservation, marine mammals, fish and birds.

Too many interests, too little time!

And then I remember how much I love gardening and putting plants together to attract birds, butterflies and bees. And making a garden safe for dogs and cats.

Well, I guess you'll have to stay tuned. I know I'm always curious about what the heck will happen on any given day. You never can tell!

Cheers to spring and the sun!

Ciao for now.

The incredible sunset overlooking White Bay
in Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands.

A gorgeous blue tang in the waters off of White Bay.