Plants I'm growing: What a Difference a Day or Two Makes

In the three days I was away skiing, the garden has come alive. There is lush new growth everywhere. Many plants are suddenly in bloom. Many more are covered with swollen buds. I love this time of year. Plants that bloomed for the first time this year while I was away include the yellow potted rhododendron on the deck and Echium gentianoides (pictured, a wonderful clear blue). The grapevines have leafed out. Some of the Sangiovese plants have shoots as long as about an inch and a half already.