In my travels at the beginning of the week, there were a few complaints about the still-chilly days. I wasn’t one of them. Very soon it will be hot, humid and extremely busy, so I’m enjoying my sweaters and the time to get a few more things in order before the onslaught.

Most of my early spring bulbs have seen better days, so I was pleased to notice the still-wonderful large displays of daffodils on North Road. Also along that drive I saw several large patches of skunk cabbage. I confess I know next to nothing about the plant except it’s very early and smells like skunk if the leaves are bruised. If I had the energy I should go on the Google but probably won’t.

For years I had a Radio Flyer wagon left over from my child-rearing days. It has been handy to haul things around the garden. The wheels finally gave out and someone gave me a newer model. It’s plastic with wonky shopping cart wheels and won’t go over weeds and piles of dirt. Nothing gets made comparably to how it was made in the old days. Forgive me for showing my age.

The peonies already have buds. Although tiny, they have potential. Many of the later perennials are off and running. Every day something new blooms. The Virginia bluebells are scattered everywhere and more than a foot tall. They are fully blooming.

I wonder about the squiggly tire marks on some of the less-traveled roadways. Clearly done on purpose. I hope those drivers realize how much new tires cost these days and if they really can afford leaving so much rubber.

A couple of months ago I sorted through my pantry-stored potatoes from last year’s harvest. I took out all the small ones that had grown impressive sprouts. For no apparent reason I put them outside and covered them with a good amount of hay. Some actually came up this week. I had given up on them but realized the wisdom of Mother Nature. Although very hardy, the newly-emerged plant is likely to freeze so hence the long wait.

Another example of nature doing its very best to care for us: I have a solid three by fifteen-foot area of reseeded kale in the hoop house. I’ve been pulling it up daily for supper. I don’t see buying seeds or plants of it in my future.

Now that I have an impressive pro- list for nature I must balance it with the con- of the week. Deer have wrecked havoc on many of the job sites. The emerging hostas and daylilies have been eaten to the quick repeatedly. Even with huge applications of Bobbex I am losing hope for their recovery.

Speaking of losing hope, the constant new revelations about the Republican behavior around the January 6 insurrection never seem to go anywhere. I wonder if my friends or family members would be “invited” to speak to authorities and then go aboutt their business, ignoring the invitation.

The memory loss of Marge Greene on the stand under oath in court is laughable, if not incredibly sad and scary. I think I would remember telling the president of the United States to impose martial law. Then again, I remember when most of our public servants had some sort of moral code.