Porch Journal: Early Spring Garden Glimpses

Early blooms, small shifts, and the garden waking up at Juniper Hill Cottage

Apr 17, 2026

Hello my lovely readers, come on in.

Welcome to the ‘Porch Journal’, a short-letter series where I share small reflections and behind-the-scenes thoughts on living a smaller, simpler, more beautiful life. These are quick, easy reads, about a minute or two - just enough for a mid-morning coffee break.

Over the past few weeks, the garden has been slowly waking up.

A bit of movement here, a new bloom there.

And we’ll just forget about that insanely odd hot spell that most of the country had several weeks back - glad that’s over.

As many of you know, we are at 6,000 foot elevation here in northern-Arizona and typically winter still makes appearances up to early May. For now, it’s been gorgeous and I’m jumping into spring.

I’ve gathered some of my recent garden glimpses (shared regularly on Substack Notes) for you to get a peek here in your in-box. I hope you enjoy.

Before our walk-about, a quick reminder:

I opened a special Spring Porch Invitation that runs through next week only. Alond with a limited release of original glass and wood artwork from the art studio.

The Invitation

Early Spring Garden Glimpses at Juniper Hill Cottage

Hellebores enthusiastically taking over the late winter garden.

They begin in February and some varieties will still be blooming in May if they enjoy good shade and moisture.

While most of the garden still sleeps, these little beauties seem perfectly content blooming through the cold - deep burgundy, soft pink, and the most subtle shades in between.

No wonder they’re my winter garden obsession.

Tiny white narcissus tucked into the river rock border on the south side of the cottage- one of those easy-to-miss little spring arrivals that rewards anyone who slows down enough to notice.

(Ibis is photo bombing again.)

And across the walkway, a reclaimed old steel chair keeping watch in the garden -doing what old garden pieces do best: adding a little soul and story.

The pansies are still holding their place, but the sedum is already rising up through the soil and enthusiastically taking over.

Early spring always begins this way - one season making room for the next.

Just look at those faces.

Violas and a Euphorbia… it doesn’t get much sweeter than this on a spring morning.

Tulips, snapdragons dancing in the wild spring breeze, and Nellie supervising—naturally.

Is spring dancing where you are?

The annual late-winter shuffle in the kitchen garden: frost cloth off, shade cloth on. I’ve got the whole transformation for you in under a minute.

The garden always seems to know what season it is - even when I’m still catching up.

Thanks for stopping by the porch for a moment.

And in case you haven’t had a chance to check out the monthly Garden Keeping Journal, here is April’s checklist for you. Beginning in May, these monthly guides will be available to paid subscribers.

Garden Keeping Journal