ECONOMICS 101 by Michael Ramirez.

SPRING 2023 begins:

We start this season with the Bartlett pear trees, which are in full bloom throughout the region. This picture was taken at a cemetary along old U.S. 76 near the city of Blue Ridge.

They're still a bit behind our faithful forsythia, which has bloomed already and is beginning to show its leaves.

Now, the usual view of the pond from our back deck. The tulip magnolia is almost in full bloom, while the rest of the yard is still dormant -- even the low lying brush. It's still too early to tell whether the trees have begun to bud, but the weather here is suggesting it'll be soon.

Next is the barn and our new front yard. It's been mostly seeded and growing well. We still have some bare spots to patch and a little finish work yet to do behind the barn and down toward the fire pit (not shown here).

Here's our house, as seen from the north property line. The fire pit in in the center, and our intention is to extend the grassy area down below the fire pit to merge eventually with the path leading downhill to the pond.

Finally, on the other side of the house are the future dogwood trees. We only have two, and to date they're still asleep (I hope; last year's freeze took it's toll).

That side of the house and the steep valley below are usually the last to recover but when the leaves are full, the hill on other side is practically invisible.

Until next week, then. -