Sometimes new beginnings come in fits and starts. I always wish for a spring that slowly wakes up, with the earliest bloomers warming up for a move into flushes of yellows and pinks and greens that stretch gently into to a colorful early summer climax.

But more often than not, a late snow storm arrives. Daffodils get flattened, and emerging plants zapped, wrecking blooms of late summer fruit and killing a whole season of hydrangeas (or rhododendrons, or something).

This spring issue has been more the later than the former. It has been coming together piece by piece for months. Stories have been written and edited and we even, sort of, started to do print layouts. But then the decision came. Even though it was my decision, I’d waffled over it and all the potential options for nearly ten months, but then I suddenly knew the right answer.
I announced to paid subscribers earlier this year that all future issues of P+V will be digital only. This change in course was the proverbial April blizzard that sent everything backwards.

The decision brings along with it the need for lots of changes, mostly to this website.  That work isn’t done and frankly I don’t know that it ever will be – I am beginning to see websites like gardens, never done, and always improving and in progress.  I’ve decided to let go of the idea of hiring someone to just do it and get it done, it doesn’t make sense to me.

Despite the upheaval, I’ve still got spring fever and I can’t wait to share these stories that have been prepared. The theme of Assembly brought in some inspiring and fresh writers and ideas – perfect for spring.   As for the site, when some new element is ready, I’ll roll it out. It will continue to come together piece by piece – Assembly style.

The plan if for new stories will go live here (digitally) every few days.  And the new website will also continue to take shape over the next weeks and maybe even months (as I said – never done).

Here is the Table of Contents (probably not in order) – I will link titles to each story as they are posted.

It is lots of change and growth, but tis the season – happy spring.

 -XO