Fiddle-dee-dee! It’s looking ferny around here. River fern (Thelypteris kunthii) fiddleheads are popping up beneath the Japanese maple, right on schedule.

Unfurling into shepherds’ hooks, the fronds will soon fill out and add springtime lushness to the shade garden.

The spiraling fiddleheads are so freaking cute!

They look like butterfly tongues.

Above the ferns, the Japanese maple unfurls its own beautiful leaves.

And evergreen Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is in full, fragrant bloom on the back fence.

So sweetly scented

Even the neighborhood does will be “unfurling” their own little fawns soon. I glimpsed this one behind the fence, browsing among last season’s inland sea oats, maybe looking for acorns.

Outside the fence is close enough to suit this gardener.

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Digging Deeper: News and Upcoming Events

Calling all garden bloggers! You’re invited to register for the annual Garden Bloggers Fling tour and meetup, which will be held in Austin this May 3rd-6th! Click this link for information about registering, and you can see our itinerary here. Space is limited, so don’t delay. The 2018 Fling will be the event’s 10th anniversary, which started in Austin in 2008.

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