We returned from the sunny south on April 1st – and nature had her little April Fool’s joke waiting for me  – still a lot of snow on the ground.    I didn’t blog much these last two months because I was very fortunate to be able to spend February and March at a little cottage 5 minutes from the beach in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Yes, I could have chronicled my adventures and posted beach photos and tropical foliage.  However, since the blog is about my garden here in Massachusetts, I thought the blog could rest along with the garden.

Now that I’m back, its time to assess the winter damage.  There is still a lot of snow on the ground but the temps are above freezing so the snow line retreats more each day.

The moles and voles were very busy under the snow, but I saw a fox this morning and there should be no shortage of breakfast for him.

The deer fence (fishing line strung between stakes) held up and the deer did not get into the azaleas.  I think I will leave the fence up for awhile though because any deer who survived will be ravenous.  I scouted around the yard and found pussy willows

a hellebore and snowdrops are blooming out by the road

shoots poking out of the ground

Goldfinches turning yellow

Spring is here – just slow……