A month ago, the overwintering buds of the variegated horsechestnut were sealed tight against still-freezing weather. Young foliage has emerged from the side buds but, as hoped, the much-larger terminal bud has developed into a panicle of flowers-to-be. So it did, indeed, need to be larger. It had been protecting a bigger volume and complexity of nascent structure: all those flowerbuds.

Small doesn't necessarily mean boring. The tiny flowers of spice bush are the delicate delight of early-Spring woodlands (and sophisticated gardens) all over eastern North America.

Spring teaches all adventurous gardeners to be grateful that any at all of their garden's experimental plants have survived. And it also gives a gold star for every advantage, no matter how small, that each such trial plant can be given.

This enormous specimen of 'Sulphur Heart' ivy looks like it should have been walloped: It has unusually large evergreen leaves, and its location is so exposed—up a trunk right at the front fence, with the street just feet away—it functions as the prow of this property's entire ship.

But it is barely touched. Unscathed and, seemingly, not even granting that scathing was ever a possibility. I had, in fact, stacked the deck toward success.