2005

4/7/2005 Spring is glorious this year on the Western Highland Rim (Enlarge map for clarity) of Tennessee. Dogwoods are beginning to color the garden and woods with layers of white. Here and there are washes of redbud/Cercis canadensis purplish pink and the spring green of the first emerging tree leaves against the deep green of cedars and mountains in the distance. Ephemerals cover the forest floor. I can see large patches of mayapple at the edge of the garden. Farther down toward the creek , firepinks/Silene virginica grow about a stone outcropping . Violets are sprinkled thoughout the lawn. Rhododendrons and azaleas are budded and ready. We hope to add some native rhododendrons to the garden this year. Several forsythias in bloom enhance the back fencerow. In the front of the house, two mature Kwanzan cherries are in full bloom; and, next door, my neighbor's saucer magnolias have been making a beautiful show for a while now. Both are so magnificent against the blue sky on clear days. A backlit, leafing, burgundy, Japanese maple is in front of the dining room window. Iris planted in the fall are tall and seem ready to bud. Today, rain is establishing the daylilies and clematis/Duchess of Edinburgh brought and just planted from my Mississippi garden. Ah, life is good.