On the bench in the Room of Requirement, three flats of seed potatoes have been getting ready for this day. That room is just perfect for preparing seed potatoes for planting by 'chitting'. Which is encouraging them to sprout, but not in the dark where the sprouts would grow long and brittle. They need just enough light to let them sprout slowly and get green. Here they are this morning... Red Norland German Butterball Yukon Gold Here's a sprout close up: Okay... real close: Looks vaguely alien in nature doesn't it? Here they are about to be tucked into bed: I had 8 left over, so I put them into one of the raised beds. I think I'll eat those fresh as my early crop and hopefully leave these for fall digging. *** On the homestead we have several lilac bushes. I just love them to bits. But the last two years, because of the horrible drought, they barely had the energy to bloom. Last year especially, they were so sparse, stunted, and lackluster that it just broke my heart. This year however... because of our wonderful rain and snow, they have come into full and stunning bloom. In the evening breeze it smells like the garden of Eden all around about these parts. It addles the senses. Is there anything more beautiful? I wish I could put a scratch and sniff icon here so you could fall into a swoon at their fragrance like I've been doing every time I pass by. The best I can wish is that you have some near you that you can enjoy. For it is their time of year. It's brief, but it's glorious!