Spring Surprises

Jack has been cleaning out the gardens.  It's a thankless job except when you are lucky enough to find a treasure or two.

The honeysuckle vine (can't remember the correct name) was really growing out of control so this morning Jack twisted my arm asked if I would help him trim and tie that vine to its trellis.  So I grumbled a little but capitulated.

This is what the vine looks like in bloom.  Last year it went wild.  Isn't it pretty?

But, the branches were all over the place...drooping down here and there.  Growing straight out and up and all over the place.  It was doing its best to free itself from the trellis, I think.  It was like a vine jungle!

That was in July, I think.

This is the middle of May and it's just now beginning to leaf out which illustrates how late our springs are.

So today while we were trimming it up and tying it to the deck railing and the trellis, we found this!  A little bird's nest tucked into the branches and the trellis.

I have no idea what kind of bird built this but I don't this it's this year's model...although it does look new.

If it's new, I hope we haven't frightened off the homeowner.  It's obviously not as hidden as it was before we trimmed up the vine.

Bird Nest Closeup

We found a few other sweet little surprises.  This is a volunteer pansy!  We normally have to plant those each year since they're annuals.

What a treat to see this brave little soul grinning from ear to ear!

That's one plus about having snow and cold...nobody appreciates spring like those of us who live through the cold and snow!

Once the flowers and other foliage pop through the ground and start blooming, we all decide that it's well worth the wait.