Spring...

...is arriving early this year. She has not crept in quietly either. She's just sort of barged her way in, muscling winter aside. Winter's been puny, not that I mind the mild weather. We've even had a little rain, a couple or three inches. It's not near enough to break the drought (we need over a foot to do that) but it's a start. But with Spring showing up on the doorstep so soon, and already having days reaching 80-82 degrees, one wonders what the summer will bring.

Signs that Spring is in our yard.

For the first time since we planted it, several years ago, the native mountain laurel is blooming. To most people it's sprays of purple blossoms smell just like grape bubblegum. That's Ursa, our dog.

 For the first time, these native blue irises are putting on buds.

And, the agaritas have burst into bloom. The tiny flowers, not much bigger than a pencil eraser put off a heady honey-like aroma that we can smell through-out our yard. Maybe this year I'll try to harvest some berries and make some jelly.

Anything springing up in your yard?