Darlene's Digest

Greetings from sunny North Central Florida and my little dogwood tree. I was sure this one was lost a few years back, but it's hanging in there, even if it's a bit lopsided now from lost limbs. I know it's springtime not just because of the increased level of sneezing and sniffling around town, but because I had my first sighting this week of a flock of Bare-Chested Buff Running Hunks. They're best spotted early in the morning but worth it. Who needs caffeine when you've got eye candy? (Note to self--restock snack bars and Gatorade in the feeder.) Whether you're waiting for the lilacs up North or for the cooler autumn temps Down Under, I hope you get the weather you're longing for. In the meantime, I'll keep an eye open for the Running Hunks.

I like to put my two hanging ferns outside when it's going to rain. They're normally on my screen porch, and a good bath and soaking perks them up. This fern was only out for about 28 hours, but when I went to bring it back today I found it occupied. Apparently a pair of house wrens saw it as a cozy fixer-upper and built a nest in it. So instead of putting it back on the porch, I put it on a hook outside. Sure enough, I saw some birds checking it out a few minutes later. The fern/nest is hanging on the hook where I keep my basket of mint, now temporarily relocated to the porch. I figure the birds need it right now more than I do. More on this as it develops.

I was at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Spring Festival yesterday, and despite the gloomy weather it was a delight. I'm posting a couple pix from last year's festival, when the sun was shining. I ended up spending too much on plants I'll probably kill, as usual, but who can resist an eyepopping orange and gold hibiscus or Reiger begonias that look like they came out of a catalog photo shoot ("C'mon, sweetie, work it for us! Show us those glossy leaves!"). I also bought some wonderful handcrafted soaps and skin creams, and ate too much fair food. But it was worth every calorie to have a scoop of Sweet Dreams honey lavender ice cream. Next week, the Spring Arts Festival!