spring and memories

so while i was walking in the backyard on saturday, my super awesome rockstar husband picked up all the dog poop by himself! he donned some gorgeous pink rubber gloves and picked it up by hand! (did i mention how much my hubby rocks?!) now my backyard is very very clean. i'm very very happy. i was looking quite closely at the ground, mostly at the plants i had chopped down (having told them if they were going to make it in MY garden, they'd better toughen up), and of course i saw the telltale signs of spring in their buds. i was very pleased (ecstatic actually) to notice that i have MANY peonies coming, MANY tulips, and MANY daffodils. and then i saw her. that perfect little purple piece of proud beauty. my first crocus. now i know that sounds ridiculous of course, yes my mother had crocuses while i was growing up, but it's not the same. the first time i had my own garden i lived in an apartment, and it was insanely beautiful with pansies in the boxes, herbs by the window and large potted perennials that i 'borrowed'. i can't begin to explain how gorgeous it was. i faced south for heaven's sakes. i had a friendly competition with my good friend Zee who lived on the 6th floor (i was on the 2nd) and yes she had vegetables so i guess you could say she won, but mine was waaaaay more beautiful and of course i didn't have problems with pigeons (remember Zee?). my second garden was actually something rockstar hubby built while we were living in our brand new home that rockstar hubby had built with his own two hands. we couldn't afford to get dirt on our property, so he built me boxes. and yes i had many veggies, but very little flowers. and while i cherished the little pansies that would pop up in the spring between the gravel because their lovely seeds had blown the right way in the fall, it wasn't the same. last summer i had another balcony but it was tiny, and in the wind. the flowers always died. the tomatoes were gorgeous and the salad was crisp, but not the same. but now. oh now. i have flowers already planted! i have little buds that are waving their shy hellos at me, welcoming me to their home. and i can tell in a few weeks, it's going to be quite the welcome...