Ten-Finger Exercises

A wealth of spring

Yellow must be the official color for spring. Daffodils and forsythia are in bloom all around town, and I've seen the first-of-the-year gold finch that has changed into his bright yellow suit.

Spring is also the time for regrets. I regret I didn't plant more bulbs last fall, or do a better job of thinning the very tall red tulips I bought in Amsterdam. They're quite clumped on one end of my long window box, and scanty at the other end. Never mind, I'll still enjoy them.

When I was married the first time, my husband didn't like me to cut flowers and bring them inside. He thought they looked best outside, I guess. At the last house we owned together, the previous owner must have bought one of those 100 bulb specials, because I had daffodils of all colors (relatively.) There were plenty to leave outside and plenty to bring in, and I felt very rich. I counted my wealth in daffodils.

At this house, there was a bunch of bulbs that sprouted, to my surprise, in the middle of the garden plot. The previous owner told me she had "heeled them in" there. Well, too bad. I didn't know exactly what that meant or what to do with them. They have not come back. But there is a big bunch in an out-of-the way place where I could pick without their absence being noticed. Of course I don't need to do that now. Bill doesn't mind. In fact, he'll probably buy some from Safeway, not noticing that I have some already.