Trout Lily and Sweet Betsy Make Their Return

Springtime has taken over North Georgia. Beginning a few weeks ago I noticed in full bloom, the Daffodils and Redbuds. This week I have spied an explosion of color from Forsythia, Bradford Pear trees, Yoshino Cherry trees, and Japanese Magnolias, amongst others. At home, I have eagerly been watching to see if the many perennials that were planted last year would make their return.

Hyacinths, Tulips, Hostas, Cone Flower, Hydrangea, Rasberry, and Blackberry bush have all begun to poke their green heads out of the ground. Last year, we ordered a couple of Forsythias from the Arbor Day Foundation, and laughed when two sticks arrived in the mail. I know, what did I expect for less than $3 each? They were planted one on either side of the driveway with the expectation that we would be enjoying a beachball sized plume of yellow by the next spring.

Well, they really didn't grow at all over the summer or winter. In fact it got to the point that I just knew they were dead. I mean, they looked like lifeless twigs that had been haphazardly stuck into the ground. We also transplanted, from Mobile, several Cast Iron Plants late last summer. With the unusually cold winter that we've had, they all turned a sickly light brown color, and some of them simply laid down flat and gave up.

Low and behold, both of the Forsythia have new green buds (maybe they'll get plumes the size of a baseball), and a couple of the Cast Iron plants have new growth poking out near the base. I was very excited (it doesn't take much) at these revelations.

On the wild side of things, a true sign that spring has arrived in when the ground near the spring branch becomes covered with Trout Lilies and Sweet Betsy's. They are the first of the wildflowers to be spotted once winter has released its harsh grip.

Soon, the Mayapple and the Trillium will sprout, the trees will fill with leaves and the curtain will be drawn, shutting off my view of Brasstown Bald. Now is the time to dig out briers before they take over. It's time to mulch the flower beds. Before you know it, the vegetable gardening will begin, and none too soon. We are almost out of salsa.

Fall is my first love, but Spring is a very close second.