growing: crazy columbine

When I arrived home yesterday I found a homemade advertisement for lawn care tucked into my door. It made me feel a little guilty - my front yard has that wonderful wispy grass that I hate cutting because it never actually cuts so you look like an idiot running your little rotary mower over it again, and again, and again. But I digress. I need to mow my lawn. That's the cold, hard truth.

But in the garden I can overlook that fact by focusing on all the wonderful plants beginning to make their way through the soil. Like the lilies of the valley. Delightful. Or this columbine, which has now divided itself into three (3!) plants and is about to bloom. The columbine leaves are so pretty and delicate; I can't remember the color of the flowers from last year, so will just have to be surprised.

I'm still learning as far as gardening, and I need to put it in my gardening notebook that columbine flowers should be removed once faded. The self-seeding thing that I let happen last season shortens the lifespan of the plant. Who knew? Now I do.