Today my trillium bloomed. I planted six of them four years ago and only two came up. At long last one of them flowered and the larger one will likely open tomorrow. The bloom is adorable but smaller than I thought — only an inch and a half. I've never seen a trillium before, so I was interested to help bring back an endangered plant. If only I had a whole sweep of them instead of two little plants, but two is all I have. Gardening certainly requires patience — if I had known it would take four years to get two flowers, I never would have stuck them in the ground.

There's something to be said for instant gratification, but I'm learning to be in this for the long haul. Four years ago I planted Onoethera speciosa because I wanted something to take hold quickly — and the plant certainly did. Now I spend an awful lot of time digging it out and pulling it up to protect the rest of my little green buddies.

I don't know if I've learned my lesson — I ordered a variegated Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander', Ajuga reptans 'Silver Beauty' and Kalimeris yomena 'Shogun' — but then again I just can't resist variegation. Who cares if they take over?