Spring on the Garden Fair

​And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb
on Earth’s dark breast 
Rose from the dreams
of its wintery rest.

 -Percy Bysshe Shelley


​(photo of Tasha Tudor)

April – it is the month I’ve been waiting for. The earth is awakening. I enjoy the sunshine-filled days watching the flowers and trees emerge from their long winter’s nap. There is color in my life once again. However, I am not fond of the cold snaps and possible frost that can occur in April – and usually does. We hold our breath to see if the fruit trees and flowers have escaped harm from the overnight frosts. The little seedlings are emerging in their private greenhouses of individual milk jugs and will fare well. It is easy to rush the season we have anticipated for many months.

Great- grandma’s mini iris bloomed almost two weeks late this year and I have been enjoying them – they are a perennial delight. I added more varieties of daffodil to my spring garden outside my big window where I look at the flowers often. Last fall I planted mini Petit Four daffs, yellow and white and also double daffs along with little blue flowers and muscari (grape hyacinths). Along with the forsythia this year, there is a lot of yellow in my world.

When going to the garden, I grab my utility box that holds tools like dibbles, trowel, string and scissors and seed packets, plus a notecard and pencil for making a note so I won’t forget and then I put on my apron.

Aprons are an item thought of as old-fashioned – but they are actually quite ingenious and still useful in today’s world too. Tamara and I always wear an apron when we teach our classes as it helps to save our clothing from being soiled. And when I arrive home from the grocery store or the shop, I grab my apron (as our grandmothers used to do too) and put it on so I can start the dinner without changing my clothes right away. My apron is always on when working with crafts too, as an apron catches the glue spots saving my clothing. We are fans of aprons! And we now have a wonderful selection of five different designs of full aprons. They make perfect spring gifts for ourselves or mom for Mother’s Day. The designs are so gorgeous that it is hard to decide –  so some people are buying two! I love the lavender, violets and lilac design, the birds and bird nests, butterflies, peonies or sweet peas. We think you will love them too.

We also enjoyed putting together the spring display on the front table as you enter the shop.
The shop is open next weekend (always and only the first three Fridays and Saturdays of a month). Many classes are being offered, so check out the newsletter sent to you the first of the month, or it can be seen on the website, goodearthgatherings.com

And a gentle reminder on these busy spring days to take time to read the April chapter in my book Gatherings from the Good Earth. This 37-page chapter includes many of my favorite spring things like wild plum thickets, lilacs and violets, pass-along (everything), rhubarb, Arbor Day and Earth Day and more.

Thank you for your emails about the March chapter reading about Solitude, home nesting, the mini iris and the Song of Spring and more. Your notes about how the book has impacted you make my day. Books are available at the shop and make great gifts also for yourself or Mother’s Day. Stop by the shop to see what we’ve added.

One last thought - Earth Day is April 22nd. Earth Day should be everyday of our lives. Please remember to recycle and to avoid one-use plastic when one can – our waste is harmful to this planet and those who call it home.
​
April Blessings, Twila 
​[email protected]