Springtime

Spring is always a wonderful thing to me. Every year, I get to a point where I just looong for the sun to break out and actually contain some warmth. I'll search my garden for the first signs of spring, and every year, I am rewarded, first with snowdrops and eranthis, closely followed by daffodils. But I get really excited when I see green buds sprouting, when the sun spreads rays of golden warmth and my garden begins once again to grow.

On the other hand, spring is a tiresome time as well, not so much because of all the garden work, but because I am allergic to birch pollen. The amount of birch pollen in Denmark has exploded several hundred percent within the last 25 years, I am told, and yes, I certainly feel it. It affects all of me - my nose gets runny to the point where the skin around it breaks, my eyes itch and I start wheezing ever so slightly. I have to run early in the morning instead of taking my beloved afternoon runs, and I have to shower every night before bedtime. I have to stay indoor for much of the day, especially around noon, where the warmth sends the pollen spiralling into the air.

So, while everyone else is out soaking in the sun, I am very careful about spending time outside. Which means I cannot tend to my garden quite like a want to.... so now, I've taken pictures of some of my favorite things out there, right from my bird houses, tomato plants to our running shoes by the front door.
This year I am trying to grow tomatoes upside down, I am waiting to see how my blueberries are doing (planted them last autumn), and I am eagerly awaiting the grapes on my vine. I am planning on planting  blackberries this coming autumn, finding them to be amongst my favorite berries of all.