We’ve had a series of beautiful days. I’m always a fan of rain, so the several light showers we have experienced of late made me really happy.

Spring is breaking out all over. Forsythia is putting on its yearly show. I have a bush that is easily as large as a small house. It just keeps spreading. Fortunately it is in an area that will allow it to run rampant.

Last year I had a little black hen who insisted on setting on eggs. I finally let her do it and separated her and a small clutch of eggs into a little pen. She hatched out five babies, three of which grew into roosters. It figures. I ate them and here she is doing it again. Every day I take the eggs from her, much to her annoyance.

I guess I shall relent and separate her again. Supposedly, the round eggs will be hens while the more pointy ones are roosters. I’ll try to only get hens if that is true. Will keep you posted.

Last spring I seeded some asparagus. It came up as perfect spears no bigger around than a sewing needle. In May, I planted them into a garden bed where they grew into tiny ferns.

I noticed over the weekend that they have emerged. They are now the size of a Number Two pencil. I hear they should not be picked until at least year three, but I could not resist. I ate a couple in the field.

Every year the flowers on hyacinths get smaller but I don’t mind. They look more natural to me scattered here and there. I am especially fond of the yellow ones called city of Haarlem.

How I wish I would do the things I mean to do. For example, now is the time to cover the broccolis, kales and cabbages to prevent the white cabbage moth from laying her eggs. Wonder if I’ll actually get around to it.

One thing I did do this week was take my own advice from a couple of weeks ago. I mentioned how Ukraine is the number two producer of the world’s wheat so most likely we will have a shortage of flour next winter.

I bought a couple of bags and put them into the freezer. I like the organic King Arthur brand. It is a New England company that sources its wheat from area local farmers.

In the beginning of my gardening career, I started seeds in the house near a sunny window. I usually jumped the gun in my impatience to rush Mother Nature. Usually the plants were remarkably leggy and weak. Then I graduated to plant lights set up all over the place. Finally, an attached greenhouse of six inch plastic was the logical choice.

Still, I have to turn the seedlings daily as they tend towards the south side of the structure. The leggy problem, however, has been solved.

Also, since the area has no supplemental heat it gets very hot during the day but will freeze if it gets below 28 degrees outside. The plastic gives it five degrees of protection.

Another problem solved, I only start perennials and winter greens early and wait until right about now for tender annuals.

Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants have germinated on the propagating mat and should be ready for outdoor life by the end of May.

Thanks to cellphones and the Internet, man’s inhumanity to man has been in full display ever since Vladimir Putin released the dogs of war. We all know that war is hell but seeing it daily is beyond alarming. I remember feeling this way while watching the evening news in the ‘60s when we would see body bags coming off planes at Andrews Air Force Base. Taking to the streets in giant anti-war protests eventually worked back then.

It appears to be a completely different story now.

Putin doesn’t have the decency of shame as did LBJ.