waiting for the rain

It's promised and we need it so badly.  Nature produces its spring time bounty, but I am seeing sure signs of struggle and fatigue.  

The asparagus is thinner and not nearly as tall as in years past.

It tastes really great despite its pigmy status - eaten raw or roasted with asiago sprinkled over it.

All of the hosta wintered over well and are making their appearances.  It's too dry to weed, believe me, I've tried.  I ended up disturbing good top soil so I quit.  A soaking rain - a few days worth - this is what is needed.

The apples are blooming and our local farmers spray late into the evening.

The beauty of the orchard never disappoints.

My mother gave me her compost bin and I am determined to improve the soil with great buckets of steamy dark composty goodness!  

Harley keeps watch for the marauding chipmunks.  It didn't take them any time at all to shake off their winter sleep and dive right back into their wicked antics -

There were beautiful little tomato plants in those trays when I left for work.  My son started them from seed and shared them.  I am really chapped about this.  I've tried every trick in the book to discourage their destructive behavior, but it is, in the end, a lost cause.  I used to think that they were cute.  How I really feel is under censorship - you don't want to know!

There are toothpicks in the soil of this pot with about an inch of the pointy ends exposed.  If I cannot stop them from digging in everything I can make the digs perilous.  So there!