Really. Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's who've brought lives into this world, cared for them when they were young, loved them through their awkward or unruly phases, guided and taught them direction and stopped them from going the wrong way.
Thanks to my mother. Thanks to our Mother (Earth), Thanks to every farmer who raised a crop or a heard, and a nod of thanks to every pet owner who cares enough to raise polite animals.
Many mom's received gift certificates to the Villager this Mother's Day. I guess it's in their nature to take care of their plants as well as their children. Over the quarter century plus that I've been in the nursery, I've seen so many kids grow up. There are the boys that spend an hour trying to catch one lizard, or the really young kids that put one rock after another into the bird bath, or the wild ones that I have to tell (I wish I didn't have to) - not to ride the carts down the hill. Some kids absolutely LOVE plants and can't wait to grow them and some of those kids have wound-up working for the Villager in high-school or on summer break from college.
And speaking of nurturing, guiding, etc.... As soon as possible get cages over your peonies so when they bloom in profusion, the buds won't lay over. Give your newly emerging sweet peas and edible peas some twine or netting to climb on, right away.
If you're going to prune roses, apples, maples, dogwood, willow, or other hedges, do so now. Do not prune lilacs, Spiraea or Viburnum until after they flower.