This week in the garden

I'm still reading The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. It's a very long book and full of informative details. It takes close reading which makes it slow - but very enjoyable - work. I say all that to explain that I don't have a review for you this week and so, instead, I offer this placeholder.

In addition to being slow reading, my progress on the book has been slowed because I've been spending quite a lot of my daytime hours in the garden. It is that time of year, after all. The garden demands my attention after its (relatively short) winter nap.

 In the vegetable garden, the curly kale is at its sweet and succulent best.

The sugar snap peas on their trellis are just beginning to bloom. They need to get a move on. Spring is heating up fast.

 Next to the vegetable garden, the wild blackberries are beginning to plump up.

The green anoles are out and about. This one enjoys a sunbath while resting on one of my succulent plants.

 The gerbera daisies are beginning to bloom.

 Is there any sunnier bloom anywhere?

Do these blooms really look like kangaroo paws? At any rate, that is their common name.

There is a Northern Mockingbird war going on in my backyard. Two pairs are vying for control. This one dares you to try to take "his" seeds!

Just a week ago the redbud tree was full of blooms. Now it is full of tiny leaves as it begins to green up.

The Japanese maple is putting out leaves and blooms, but at a much slower rate than the redbud.

The male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are passing through. They usually lead the migration with the females and first-year birds following.

The amaryllis bulbs that I've planted in the garden over the years are just getting ready to bloom.

This canna has been trying to come back since January. Twice it got nipped back by cold weather, but that won't happen this time.

 Autumn sage, spring sage, every season sage - the Salvia greggii is in bloom.

 It comes in raspberry pink, too.

 A Red Admiral butterfly rests on the emerging lantana.

 The lime sedge seems to glow in its shaded bed.

The Carolina Wrens have been hard at work building a nest in the bluebird box outside my kitchen window. They abandoned it once before. We'll see if they follow through this time.

 The yarrow is in full bloom now.

I used to see nothing but fox squirrels in my yard but a couple of years ago they began to be displaced by the gray squirrels. Now I see nothing but grays - no more fox squirrels.

On its trellis by the garden shed, my 'Peggy Martin' rose is in its glory at the moment.

There you have it - a walk through my garden at mid-week and I hope to have that review for you in a few days!