1852
April 5th Monday Went into the garden this morning and
found my tulips were coming up through the coal
scraped it off and set out a few that I got in
Olivers garden. Went with Orinthia to Edwin
Manlys garden about three Oclock. he had gone
to Mr Clapps. We rode there and met him on
the way stoped awhile and had a chat on plants
in general The school commenced this morning
by Mr Brown & C Clark
Tulips! How welcome was the sight of the curl of green shoots “coming up through the coal.”
Forget the laundry. Never mind the sweeping and dusting. Someone else could do the breakfast dishes. Without so much as a glance at her sewing workbox or the pile of mending, Evelina was in her garden.
She scraped the coal covering away and “set out a few” more plants. After midday dinner, she and Orinthia headed to Edwin Manley’s nursery north of the village only to find that Mr. Manley had himself headed out to look at plants at the home of Lucius Clapp in Stoughton. The two women rode on and finally came across Mr. Manly en route. With carriage and on horseback, the three avid gardeners paused in the roadway and “had a chat about plants.” Spring had truly begun.
evelinaames 
Hooray For Spring!!
So far, I have only snowdrops and pussy willows, but I have had my fingers in the dirt to get worms for the compost pile. The daffodils are out at the Y, not too far from the site of Evelina’s house. The Y has a south facing wall that generally produces the first daffodils in these parts. Right now, I would settle for a crocus. 😉
Also, the Great Pondm which Manyley and Evelina would have had to cross on the causeway to get to Lucius Clapp’s place, is still icebound, at least on our (the north) end. There was a little open water along our shore yesterday, but one cold windy night froze it up again.
Spring is a long time coming, isn’t it?