Signs of the season

A quick tour of the garden this morning revealed some stirrings. Buds on trees are forming. I noticed the cherry and japanese maple are showing distinct signs of waking. I see buds on the cyclamen (coum I think), hellebores orientalis and niger, and little violets are blooming if you move aside the debris from last fall. It's amazing how much a little walk around the garden can change your perspective. What started out a really bad day has suddenly improved. I am ready to face whatever comes next.
What also came to light during my jaunt was how much work I have been neglecting. There are grass blades from various ornamental grasses blowing all over the neighborhood. I will have to get out there and cut them back and clean up soon. Dog damage is also very noticable right now. The wet weather combined with the dogs has done some serious damage mainly compaction in the lawn and a few of the paths. It also looks like there are a few trampled shrubs. I am always surprised at how well they recover after a winter with my puppies.
I am kind of suprised as what isn't showing yet. No signs of Iris reticulata or any of the early daffodils yet. I'm afraid the combination of an unusally wet winter and my heavy clay may have rotted them away. Could also be the bulbs I bought were duds. I guess time will tell.

NARG seedlist

I finally joined the North American Rock Garden Society this year after thinking about it for a while. So far it is well worth the $25. I have received several great publications and today when I got home from work the motherlode was in the mailbox. The seed exchange list!! Over 4500 different kind of seeds to choose from most of which I have never heard of . Awesome it's like Christmas all over again for me. How do I narrow it down to 25 choices.
There was one disappointment in the mail today although some would not recognize it as one. Heronswood sent out a full color catalog preview that says the catalog is going to change with full color pictures. I'm not good with change. I look forward to my novel size catalog every year. I actually save all my catalogs and go back and reread them some winters the 2000 catalog with all the essays is one of my favorite gardening 'books' to read. Hopefully that doesn't change with the update and new additions.