It has been said...

...that all the flowers bowed their heads, as Christ walked the way of the cross. All that is except the haughty Fritillaria imperialis, "Crown Imperial", it stood erect, bold and scornfully proud, refusing to bow before anyone. But, after the Crucifixion and forever more, Fritillaria imperialis when blooming in the Spring, does so with it head bowed, for all to see its' shame.
A Blessed and Joyous Easter, to all.

Son before Father...

...there are several plants that have this feature, of the flowers blooming before the leaves appear. Tussilago farfara, Coltsfoot is one of these plants. It is blooming today in the ditches along the roadside. It's joyous yellow hue calls out to me as I pass by. It is an alien plant that looks somewhat like a Dandelion, except the Dandelion blooms after the leaves. The Dandelion has a smooth stalk and the Coltsfoot's stem is rough or scaly. Coltsfoot was used in colonial times as a cough syrup. It grows in "waste places" and is found throughout the Northeast. It's leaves are attractive and last throughout the growing season. We have some growing on a hillside and it seems to prevent soil erosion.

Gloves that I...

...actually wear. Before finding these treasured gloves, I would head for the gardens with cotton gardening gloves on each hand, only to pull them off in frustration, when I couldn't weed with them on. The one size fits all, never fit me. The finger tips would bend over and made them incapable of grasping anything. Or the gloves would become wet and comfortable, or thorns or other sharp objects would prick my fingers. I found it easier just to throw the gloves away and deal with dirty fingernails and sore fingers.
While visiting the Philadelphia flower show many years ago I found the glove that I now use. They were a bit pricey, but they were worth it. Two years ago while attending a Woodman Field Days in the Adirondacks, I found a vendor that sold my favorite gloves at a great savings. I buy them a dozen at a time. So, check around you may be able to find them at a lesser price too.
The reason I buy so many pairs is, because I give them as gifts and always have a pair in my day-pack, the trunk of my car, in the kitchen, in the tool shed, in my gardening tote etc.
The Brand name is Atlas and they come in small and extra small in addition to medium, large and extra large. I actually alternate between these 3 types shown in the photos, if I could have only one type it would be the Green/White pair with the rubber tips.

My worst gardening problem is...

...definitely not weeds in the garden. That doesn't mean I that I don't get weeds in my garden(s), of course I do. But, the bigger problem is that I can't just go out and look or admire my gardens, I HAVE TO WEED them. Not only my gardens, but friends gardens, public gardens, private gardens, etc. I have this compulsion to pull out/up weeds. Especially "weeds" like AEgopodium (bishop's-weed, goutweed), Alliaria officinalis (garlic mustard) and even Taraxacum offinicale (common dandelion). I really make a conscientious effort not to pull them up. After all what is a weed, except a plant that grows where it isn't wanted.
I try to wear my gardening gloves whenever I go into my yard, and have them handy when visiting friends, public and private gardens. I never know when that urge will strike.
The greatest gardening gloves tomorrow...

Just beneath the snow...

...lies a favorite, early Spring flower. Caltha palustris, Marsh Marigold or Cowslips will be emerging soon. For years, using camera and lens within my budget, I tried to photograph this Spring harbinger. Either the petals (actually the sepals) were in focus or the pistils were in focus, but never at the same time. It was truly frustrating. When I purchased my first digital camera, even before I had read the directions, I learned that I would be able to take the photos that I had desired. I photographed a deer, through the kitchen window, and when I looked at the photo on the screen, I saw that not only was the deer in focus, but also a crystal hanging from a monofilament in the window, was in focus. Both the foreground and background in focus! Now I had to wait five months to see if I could actually photograph Caltha palustris the way I desired. Caltha say cheese...

Almost Easter but...

...not spring. The ground was covered with a dusting of snow yesterday, and it is cold and rainy today. The Hinckely Reservoir, which is close to our house, has broken free of the bondage of ice. The water if flowing over the dam and the falls at Prospect and Trenton are magnificent. While checking out the water flow, I spotted about a dozen Buffleheads. There were 7 males and 5 females. Many geese are nesting in the marshes and ponds. Many wildflower leaves and buds are poking up through the ground in the woods. Daffodil and other spring bulbs are trying hard to push up and out, but we are suppose to get more snow tomorrow. Yet, there is something in the bird songs, the scurring and scampering around the meadow that says Spring is coming...