The Nature of Things

Late January and the weeds are flourishing in my garden. It seems that they do best in winter when there's hardly any competition from the plants that the gardener actually wants to grow. I've been spending a lot of time lately digging them out, but so far I'm losing the battle. They grow faster than I can dig. Even so, it's not all weeds in the garden as we head into February. The garden is beginning to stir from its short winter nap and some plants are even blooming.  My little Tazetta narcissus plants   (I think this one is called 'Texas star') are just beginning to bloom. They seem to get earlier every year. Not many actually have open blooms yet, but it's a start and enough to lift my spirits. Seeing the flowers of the gerbera daisies always lifts my spirits. And the little violas continue to bloom from pots around the patio. The loropetalum is not in full bloom yet but it will be soon. Its fringy flowers reveal its relationship to witch-hazels. I do l...