I have a tiny resentment about the beautiful weather. Wait, let me explain. I was hoping for a few more weeks of down time before the garden season got into full swing. Of course it is totally enjoyable to be lightly dressed and in the dirt.

We started on the job sites this past week. Fifteen years ago we started caring for a knot garden set into an entrance patio. Sadly, the new owner wants it partially removed to accommodate a kitchen vegetable garden. The knot had to be removed leaving only the outer border at the edge.

We hoped to salvage some of the plants but they only have two good sides and a top. Reuben and Jake, my strong and willing workers, heeled them into my garden. We shall hope for the best.

I went on the Google to research knot gardens but within moments became too impatient with advertisements and sketchy information. I hightailed it to my bookshelves and found Graham Rose’s The Classic Garden. The chapter on topiaries offers instructions to create a knot garden and very interesting histories of the ancient art. The heyday was in the 16th century. Typical plants used in the creation were boxwood santolina, and germander, aka lavender cotton. The combination of color contrast and careful clipping produces the illusion that the hedges weave over and under each other.

During the Dark Ages labyrinths were popular especially in monasteries. They were created to frustrate and humble the walker and to teach self discipline. My willful ignorance of the computer is my 21st century frustrating and humbling experience.

On the same job site some construction workers mixed cement on one of the flower beds. Don’t even get me started about my reaction to that! At any rate, a batch of crocuses forced their way right up through the concrete. Nature is truly grand.

Two of my friends, Phyllis and Marie, mentioned hearing pinkletinks last week during their walks. I never heard the word pinkletink until I landed on the Vineyard in the early 1970s. We called them spring peepers in Rew, Pa. I have an enduring memory of finding dozens of tiny pollywogs in mud puddles in early spring. We would capture them and watch them grow feet, lose tails and turn into frogs and/or toads no bigger than dimes. I haven’t seen them in years (decades, really).

In the vegetable garden I noticed some brand new bright green leaves on celery leaf, parsley, chives and garlic. A few snips here and there can spice up a salad.

Some lawns are getting a green sheen and some cheerful dandelions are appearing in the paths. Last year at this time I believe we still had a foot of snow.

I wonder if I’ll live long enough to do everything I say I’m going to do. I yielded to temptation and stopped at Heather Gardens. I could not resist purchasing several flats of pansies and violas. If one keeps them dead headed they will bloom most of the summer and then again really nicely in the cooler fall. I often have them winter over and reseed. A win, win.

Contrary to many Vineyard kindred spirits I am a Hillary supporter. A life long Democrat, I had two major disappointments in my idealistic past — Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern.

While I agree with Senator Sanders on practically every issue, I am becoming more realistic as I age. Part of my appreciation for Senator Clinton was her immediate embrace of Barack Obama when he won the nomination.

I hope if she wins this year’s nomination that the passionate Sanders supporters will do the same for the good of this country. If I were Republican, John Kasich would be my choice. He is decent, soft spoken and SANE!