Pop-Up Season

I watched my neighbour bagging some little items that popped up in his backyard as the snow disappeared. (You know what I’m talking about!)
Spring Pop-ups come in two varieties: the delicious little surprises that spring brings to the garden and the not-so-pretty reminders that we live in an urban environment.
The not-so-pretty reminders on my property are a result of living just down the street from a strip-mall. Scattered across the front of our property are the leavings from the ubiquitous Tim Horton’s, as well as Mike’s Milk, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Thank goodness the pleasant pop-ups are more numerous.
Of all the pleasant pop-ups, spring bulbs are my favourite. Crocuses and daffodils and grape hyacinths and snowdrops can’t wait until the weather warms up. Their noses are up despite the cold winds and late spring snows.
On our boulevard, the tulips my son-in-law planted last fall are popping up. I don’t know what colour they will be, but there seems to be a lot of them! Isn’t it nice to be surprised by sons-in-law?
Even some of the bravest of the perennials are doing some popping. From under a blanket of leaves, my new hellebores are popping up. This is their first year, and I am anxiously awaiting the results.
The columbines in the back are popping up. The wood poppy is showing first leaves. The bleeding heart is popping up shoots, too. And the primroses have popped along with the delphiniums.What brave little guys they are to poke out when April can be such a cruel month.
In fact, despite the cold we’ve had, there’s a lot of popping up going on. Hmmm? Maybe the season should be called Pop instead of Spring!