Beautiful, foggy, moody morning in the Ozarks

Foggy, moody morning

It is Springtime in the Ozarks, in what might be considered the rainy season.

Personally, I love everything about this time of year, especially the rain. We have had pretty dry conditions the last several years, so any amount of rainfall can only be considered beneficial.

Bleeding Heart weeps

Not only do April showers bring May flowers, but it also invokes a kind of moodiness that I just love.

My favorite lilac

Today is actually the first day in a while that it hasn't rained. At least moisture wasn't falling from the sky. Instead, moisture was all encompassing. It provided a thick blanket of fog and heavy dew. Moisture was everywhere; it might as well have been raining.

Leaves were covered with droplets, making this Bleeding Heart look like it was shedding real tears.

I took the opportunity to walk around the house. I let my nose lead the way, directing me toward various stands of lilacs. The fragrance was intoxicating.

My favorite is this double white lilac, which I've written about before. It is special to me.

Its leaves were also spotted with water droplets.

Spectacular Spring

This Spring has been absolutely spectacular. Thanks to the hard work of my husband who has done the heavy lifting, or should I say heavy digging, this Spring has been a joy to behold.

This white lilac is a good example of one of many successes we have enjoyed this season. It has been a spectacular Spring, with a color pallet filled with every conceivable shade of green. A whole other pallet includes all the other colors. I don't know which is better, the pinks, purples, yellows, or those glorious greens.

Winter was long. It seemed as though it took so much time to get here, but it was worth the wait. With the trees fully leafed as well as shrubs and flowers blooming, I could not be more satisfied.

I was especially pleased to see this plant bloom. In only its second year, it was loaded with tall spikes of tiny perfect flowers.

Planting this particular plant was deliberate. It was planted to honor my late father. It was similar to a variety he planted so many years ago. I had little interest in gardening in those days, yet I do recall how enamored he was with his double white lilac. And, I never forgot its unmistakably sweet fragrance. I didn't hesitate when I saw this plant in a catalogue.

So Dad, this one's for you. I wish you were here to enjoy it with me.