AS MARCH DAWNS

If there were a month that we could HUG, I believe it would be March. She ushers out a long dreary winter and teases us with a few warm sunny days, just enough to bring signs of hope with blooming daffodils and tiny buds peaking through the earth. Then she leaves us with the official first day of Spring (on our calendar) to enjoy before the April rains, May flowers and sultry heat of summer.

The cottage and other gardens that lie mostly dorment all winter become enchanted places to be. Children look for signs of life as they explore the mostly empty spaces hoping to find something really exciting there, like a snake or unexplainable footprints, possibly those of a bear or a dinosaur.

I look for signs of plant life and find it exciting to see something I forgot was planted there, or amazed when I find a perennial that has come back - as it should.

March is a time for clean-up.

We're lucky to have helpers.

There's much competition among the sexes.

But always, always helping each other.

A new nesting box goes up for Blue Birds.

Can't have too many of these.

Blue Birds will soon be scouting for their spring nesting homes.

Finally, March also brings the promise of tea parties in the garden.

Steaming mugs of coffee and hot cocoa have graced our trips to the gardens in these cold months,

but picnics, tea time and southern iced tea socials are coming soon.

Spring Blessings to you and yours!

~Gwen of IRISH ACRES