Hi Again.

"Spring is sprung. The grass is riz. I wonder where the flowers is." Not that spring is dawdling, but our daffodils have just finished, our tulips may have opened for the first time while I'm writing this, and there ain't much else happening. I've mowed the lawn, as much to see if the lawn mower would start as because there was much to mow.

A good deal of our lawn from last fall, especially in the front, has come back well. You may recall that we started from scratch in front and in a good deal of the back last September, after our new basement work was more or less done. We spent this past weekend reseeding some of those places that didn't do so well, as well as a few pet spots.

The flowers that are blooming are some grape hyacinths, notably in some neighbors' yards, the dandelions, not so many in our yard (thanks, Weed-B-Gon) but most everywhere else, and Creeping Charlie, regrettably in our yard and garden areas as well as everywhere else. There are only two approaches to Creeping Charlie: total war, or learning to like the smell of it as you mow. So far, I've opted for total war: Weed-B-Gon can help if applied repeatedly, pulling can fill up a happy morning, etc. I've heard of solutions of 20-Mule Team Borax, etc., but constant vigilance is a component of all of these. The smell, by the way, is kind of minty.

The leaves are just now coming on many of the trees; the big silver maple by our driveway has thrown down many of its leaf sheaths, the first of its series of messy detritus items for the year. Next come whirlybirds (the seeds), then sap dripping, then leaves in fall. This was a free tree from our friends about 25 years ago, that Wendy brought home in a bike trailer; it's now about 18" in diameter and interferes with every possible angle for jump shots at our backboard.

Our flowering crab is showing buds. Last year at this time it was already done with its spectacular pink blossoms; this year, just warming up. The little crabapples hang on the tree all winter and are eaten by robins and squirrels in March when there's not much else. Sometimes there's a day we call "Robin Day," when a dozen or more hungry birds feed out there.

After the disruption of our garden last year, and the replanting in August and September, it's a treat to see how many things are popping out of the ground this spring. Poppies, peonies, lilies, the lilac bush that sat out of the ground in the neighbor's yard all summer, hen-and-chicks, mint (can't kill it), daisies, Tibetan irises, and some things we don't remember what the hell they are, all showing up. Hey, maybe some are weeds.

About six or seven years ago, the city and Xcel Energy teamed up to chop down all the boulevard trees on our side of the street, because of overhead wires, and to replant with dwarf trees that were supposed to top out below the wires. Carelessly, we watered ours the first two years. They're now the tallest and thickest on the block, and one must be a mutant because this year it's reached the wires. This does mean that some shade is available for the poor lawn on the boulevard.

Now that I mention it, what do you call that piece of land between the sidewalk and the street? We're told that it's part of the right-of-way for the street, and thus under city control, and in theory it doesn't count as our property as far as taxes or title go. But I'd better mow it and maintain it, or I'll get the ticket for too-tall grass, weeds, etc. I've learned to call it the "boulevard." But what if you live on a street called "Something Boulevard?" What about the streets, divided by a raised central strip of lawn, concrete, or, happily, city-managed gardens, which are often named or referred to as "boulevards?" This appears to require research. Or a glass or two of cheap but tasty wine (16 bottles of wine and two six-packs of approved beer at Trader Joe's, plus tax, under $100!)

The news: Wendy has successfully defended her dissertation, and will receive an Ed.D (doctorate) from the University of Minnesota. Laura and Ross roll on towards their September wedding, and they have bought a house in Minneapolis. Wendy and I, and our friend Ed, are off to Istanbul in June for the wedding of our good friends' daughter.

Dear U of Mn Registrar: My daughter graduated from the U in 2007. My wife will earn her Ed.D in 2009. My mother graduated in 1936. My grandmother graduated in 1912. And I believe my great-grandmother attended - may have graduated - in the late 1880's. Is there a prize?

Life is pretty good. See ya next time.