Butterflies in spring garden

Eastern Comma Butterfly

Swallowtail butterfly

A walk around the garden this morning brought some nice surprises. My lilacs are blooming like crazy. They are all over the place here, since this is an old farm house the plantings of from previous residents remain. A small blessing to be sure! Their scent is pervading the air and has drawn in many butterflies. I did not expect to see butterflies this early in the season but there they were drinking in the nectar and fluttering around the bushes busily imbibing.  A small joy!

resident dogwood

newly planted viola

It seems like the whole cycle has started again, in earnest.  Spring has held off for way too long. I expected it March 1st as usual, but no! Here we are on April 20 and finally something is happening. Our temperatures were between 80 and 90 today. Our Dogwood, another long time resident of the property has bloomed fantastically this year. I was ready to cut it down. I gave up on it after waiting four years for it to bloom. Guess it heard my rumblings and decided it better put out. Really pretty I must say. The little purple and yellow viola I just bought has made itself very happy here. Its roommate has been very unhappy after being ripped out of the ground by some night time assailant. I mentioned that in a past blog entry. The trauma of it really has hindered its acclimation to this place. It is hurting for certain...no blooms... no perk up...no thriving, nearly dead!