DEAR MARCH -COME IN

 Dear March—Come in—

How glad I am—
I hoped for you before—
Put down your Hat—
You must have walked—
How out of Breath you are—
Dear March, how are you, and the Rest—
Did you leave Nature well—
Oh March, Come right upstairs with me—
I have so much to tell—

I got your Letter, and the Birds—
The Maples never knew that you were coming—
I declare - how Red their Faces grew—
But March, forgive me—
And all those Hills you left for me to Hue—
There was no Purple suitable—
You took it all with you—

Who knocks? That April—
Lock the Door—
I will not be pursued—
He stayed away a Year to call
When I am occupied—
But trifles look so trivial
As soon as you have come

That blame is just as dear as Praise
And Praise as mere as Blame— Emily Dickinson

Only two chickens remained of my original flock of 5 so I decided to add 4 new ones.  I selected the Plymouth barred rock which is an old American breed known for its good nature and egg laying.  

March has been rather cold this year so I had to set up an incubator indoor.  It is simply amazing how fast they grow !

Blooming in March -my lovely rosemary 'prostata ', IMO, the best of its kind.  I planted it around my roadside garden where it deters the deer.

 Early blooming viburnum, 'burkwoodii. '

Another early blooming viburnum -'plicatum mariesii' fronted by Ajuga and Hellebores.

    

     My Lady Banks rose blooms toward the end of March.  It is the only thornless evergreen rose.

One of my favorite perennials -'ascot rainbow' euphorbia which keeps this color even during winter and then sends up lovely flowers in Spring.

March is a month that brings signs of life to the Spring garden.  The last freeze date here in central North Carolina is not until April 15.