The Darling Buds of May

"Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May" Shakespeare

Yesterday I asked Ron if I could take him on a date. He was happy to comply. We picked up lunches and took them to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens, a wonderful spot in Portland, formerly a rhododendron test garden. It's a bit early for the full show- Mother's Day weekend is typically perfect- but I wanted to avoid the crush of people.

As sensational as the large rhodies are, what drew my attention were the tiny things growing underneath and in between. Even in my own yard I have been noticing these darling buds. As we walked, I had the (above) phrase stuck in my head and thought it was probably Shakespeare but had to come home to my Oxford Dictionary to find it (the "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" sonnet.)

The additional insight of Shakespeare's quote couldn't be more relevant to our weather this spring: Rough winds indeed have been shaking our gardens and ourselves! Hail last week took a toll on the tulips. Another phrase I have twisted this spring is that March came in like a lamb and went out like a lion! High winds, driving rain, hail, cold temperatures with an occasional pretty day to tease us into believing that we're almost into Spring.

Here are some of the persistent, hardy darlings in our yard:






Here are some that I saw at the rhododendron gardens:

Does this picture make my thumb look fat? Yes! But I had to show how petite the buds are.

Sorry, because of that wind I didn't get this one in focus but it is adorable. Do you see the green polka-dots on it?

Here is what the wind, rain and hail did to my friend Diane's tulip beds:

Don't worry; she'll have plenty more next week. Her garden is fantastic. Sigh.

I am going to show you the real stuff of the rhododendron gardens next time.

'Til then...
Holly