April 5, 2011
We kept a hurried pace while touring Talbot County on the Eastern Shore. We made a quick stop at the Village Shoppe in St. Michaels (no apostrophe, my dear editors) for sustaining Diet Cokes and chocolate chip cookies. There is some logic there, truly. In the inviting outdoor garden section I was seized with an irrational longing for the willow tuteurs tucked behind some massive cobalt planters. It wasn't enough that I was wandering headily among the pots of cyclamen, tulips, jonquils and hyacinths. I had to plot how I could get an unwieldy 5-foot tall willow frame home on a plane which already wanted to charge me $20 to check my bag... Luckily a cool head prevailed, and in a very Puritan fashion I managed to subvert my desires and I just walked away from gardening madness.

"in just-spring, when the world is mud-luscious..." e e cummings