Tweren't the cold what did the pulmonaria in, Bobert. Twas the dreadful drought. I'm taking inventory this spring. Wasn't sure late summer and early fall last year as to what just went dormant early and what croaked.

Mowed the grass (or rather, the weeds and wildflowers) for the first time yesterday. Should have been done at least 10 days earlier, and it was quite a job. The lumbar spine hasn't forgiven me yet. The yard was full of purple deadnettle, common speedwell, chickweed, and the like. Now it looks bare and brownish again.

There are places in my yard that are usually thickly blanketed with white and purple violets this time of year. The drought has been so deep that it has really stunted them and their spread also.

The holly trees are blooming now and the buzz of honey bees working their sweet-scented blossoms fills the air as thickly as the floral aroma on mild days. Isn't it great that tiny, insignificant flowers often have the headiest smell?

I've only seen Cedar Waxwings once in my life. A large flock came through one early spring morning, a number of years ago, stormed a large Eastern Red Cedar, stripping it of it's blue berries in what seemed like no time at all, then headed on north. I was quite taken with them and have watched hopefully but in vain for them every spring since.