I've been so busy. I've been on spring break all week trying to get ahead on school work. Unfortunately, I am easily distracted. There is always so much to do! I find myself strolling around in the backyard tending the garden I planted about three weeks ago. Little sprouts are beginning to emerge...it's so exciting! I planted tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, green onions, hot peppers, cantaloupe, squash, dill, cilantro, rosemary, and basil. My climbing rose vine is covered with aphids...and this annoys me to no end. I ordered some lively lady bugs to be delivered today...I hope they are hungry! The weather has been so beautiful...a bit windy, but warm enough to keep me sneaking outside when I should be reading or writing! What's a girl to do!?
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. 
I am getting a late start but I plan on spending a little extra time in the garden today. The weather has cooled off considerably and there is a nice breeze blowing. There should be some strawberries to share with Lacey. I am expecting some Forget-Me-Not seeds from my GardenHere friends any day. I think my Snapdragon seeds have all been harvested but I do have plenty Alyssum and Dahlberg seeds blowing around. It is fun to watch how nature works. There is just something about pulling the little dried up pod fron the Snapdragon stem and seeing the intricate detail of its plan. There is the tiniest hole from which you can pour the seeds out into the palm of your hand. Usually, the pods will drop and the seeds will sprout from where they are, but since Snapdragons tend to be a little taller, I prefer to maneuver them to the background when I can. The most sentimental plant I have is the Sedum Cauticolum. I purchased the mother plant for my dad on his birthday many years ago. It is a delicate variety of ice plant that only blooms around October. It has soft pink blooms that hang heavy and it is so beautiful. His birthday is October 13th and I say it blooms in honor of him. The original plant became quite large and he split it and gave me half. I have it hanging from a wire basket that is fixed along the fence. He has his hanging from the side of a Magnolia tree. I also have Japanese Maple trees growing wild throughout my yard. They sprout up along the fence line and I wait until they are about 4 inches tall then I replant them in containers. I have been told they are very valuable and one of the most expensive trees to have to go out and buy. I have one that is about 6 foot tall now, but I really do not have any place to plant them so I will probably end up giving them to friends or selling them, if they are indeed that valuable. They grow rather slowly so I have time to learn more about that. Well, I think it is time to get my hands a little dirty. I need to go through and manicure a few of the spots that have grown quickly. The garden is a nurturing place for me as well. I can always feel God's presence during quiet time in the garden.
