Today's flower picture...

...is, for a change, neither a hippeastrum nor a nopalxochia, but a simple market pack of pansies waiting to be planted in our backyard.

The second scape of 'gervase' is getting ready to open, as one of the flowers from the first scape starts to fade. I am hoping that I'll have one day with all of them open before the first flowers collapse.

Second scape of 'exotica' isn't too far behind 'gervase.'

That trio of Nopalxochia buds is coloring up quickly and may be done by Easter. Downstairs, the 'fairy tale' is starting to show the definition of four buds in the scape -- the two juveniles that shot up first aren't looking much further along but I have hopes that they'll both offer red flowers.

I potted up some 'kiwi fern' cuttings this morning and cut up another gallon milk jug to start the french thyme I bought at Longwood Gardens over the weekend.

It's brilliantly blue-sky but chilly. We are thinking about concrete-busting as a pastime this afternoon; also some supermarket runs are called for. Tomorrow is threatening rain.

I've been taking backyard progress pictures but things looked so dismal while in process that I don't think I want to share any until I have a well-groomed area with some plants looking all perky.

A delicious moment...

The doorbell rang and it was some guy who was going from door to door talking to people who didn't subscribe to Comcast.

I hissed at him. "Cable TV -- spawn of Satan. "

He looked extremely nervous, but went on gamely. "But what about the internet?"

"Yep. Got that. Thanks for stopping by."

And I smiled and gently closed the door.