YES! Now fully virus vaccinated and after a year of no new plant purchases and spending each sunny, fairly windless day clearing flower/veggie beds over the past few weeks, I finally permitted myself to go at long last to nurseries this past weekend. Horrible wind gales and foreboding stormy purple/blackish skies meant yard work was out-of-the-question. I'd completed the dreaded refrigerator clean out, purchased & put away the grocery necessaries, so the timing was perfect for this long awaited reward!

Although masked, I noted that since the Gov. lifted the mask restriction this week, probably 70 % of shoppers and staff were unmasked. I had my "must have" replacements and "just really wants" list in hand and had designated places in mind for the new acquisitions. What I'd failed to take with me was my spiral for "price comparisons" of favorites. SEVEN nurseries with some repeat visits over Sat & Sun meant unloading the back of the car 3 times with my bounty!! Pure Joy!

... until I had to scramble to place them in "holding places" in the garage where they could be watered and protected from what turned out to be several small tornadoes filmed in nearby communities over the weekend. More reality set in because I knew these lovelies would have to be moved in and out over the next days for sun once the gales abated and more prep had been completed in both yards.

Then there were the unexpected, unplanned "finds" like crocus and Romaine lettuce which I'd never seen for sale before...probably because in the past, I'd shopped as each bedding area was ready which meant going a bit later. Dwarf blue fescue...oh, my! Elijah or Boulder variety? Boulder more expensive but more drought resistant...Shasta daisies made the list but who expected having to choose among 6-7 differing varieties and heights????

Once all were temporarily homed and watered, there were a few hours left Sunday to work on clearing one bed to add more hyacinths, along with the new crocus, dainty yellow and deep purple varieties of Iris. Need to check out the names of the delicate stemmed new Iris.

Yesterday, while it meant stopping some ground efforts, the cushions returned to the outdoor table as neighbors popped over to visit and inhale the wonderful hyacinth fragrance in the table arrangement. None wore masks but I wore mine and the social breaks were a delight too!

After an 8 am haircut and Triple A free 40 point maintenance car drop off, I'll return home this morning for a day in the sun and dirt. Maybe I should make a do-ahead salad for lunch??? What could possibly be a better start to a new week?????