Mother's Day.

5-8-22 SHORT HILLS: The big storm lasted two days and ended this morning. We got 2.75 inches of rain, a lot for here. The yard is soggy and muddy walking around. Even though it was cold, blossoms are popping out. Trees are on the verge of making the yard shady, as is usual in the summer.

I have done more pruning and trimming, and there’s a bunch of  branches for me to clean up. 

We had Mom’s Day brunch with Lily, Val and Steve at Jane Restaurant on Houston St. in NYC. 

New blooms: honeysuckle-red and white, burning bush, rhododendron, azalea, deutzia, siebold viburnum, double-file viburnum, wild strawberry.

The first rhododendron to flower, the others will take a few more weeks to open.

Azaleas must be the most colorful of shrubs.

This clematis enlivens the kitchen door.

A female house finch is still drying out after the storm.

Mourning dove pair probably should be sharing a cigarette about now.