I did a few spring chores in the yard today. I mowed, which thrilled the robins.
Then I uncovered the ginger lilies. Last winter, we lost an entire bed of ginger lilies, who are more susceptible to cold than any of our other bulbs. I feared losing all the beds as snowstorm after snowstorm plowed through the area. Stung by last year’s losses, this year I have been determined to leave them insulated until well after our last “frost date”. They’ve had other plans, stubbornly growing through and under and around their protective layers. So tonight they are free.
It’s not just the ginger lilies. The tulips are ahead of schedule, too. We don’t have many tulips (six, to be exact), and they don’t seem to thrive in our yard. Some years, they don’t bloom at all. That’s not the case this year.
While working in the corner flower bed, I found a family of fresh-hatched spiderlings. (Look away!) I’m wretchedly arachnophobic, but these little motes hardly seemed like spiders. They were almost cute. I watched as they trooped across a tiny span of web, climbed the tallest iris, and floated away on gossamer sails. I wanted to wave goodbye. And wish them luck. And read Charlotte’s Web again.
All told, it was a lovely day in the yard.
Rae Spencer 
Sparkling with the joy of getting out in the garden this time of year!
Your yard is so alive with spring’s bounty! Flowers budding and blooming, bees buzzing, birds landing, and spiders spinning!! Only you can make spiders look special and beautiful with your camera and bring the joy of it all to us. Thank you.
Rae, you have provided a haven for a variety of creatures and plants. Somehow I think they are aware.
Shar
🙂
Beautiful photos accompanied by quotes … Robins are my favorite to observe ! I love how they run a little and then stop so still, so silent, then run a little and do it all again. THey are so still it’s almost like their invisible … thank you for sharing all of this !
!~ J
I adore robins, especially this time of year. In Tennessee, they left during the winter. Spring never felt “official” until the robins returned. So today felt extra spring-like because I had a robin following my circuits as I mowed.
Awesome ! Here in Mass they are all over, on the hunt and who knows what other mysterious things going on in their inner world … Great to meet you … Jason