The Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) hedge is in full bloom this week, drawing in bumblebees, a flashy male Baltimore oriole and our summer resident ruby-throated hummingbird. It is not a plant I love– its exuberant growth must be trimmed frequently, its rhizome suckers and thorns are annoying, but it is forgiven every spring when it blooms.

Narcissus ‘Salome’s peachy trumpets seemed a good complement to the coral quince and its reddish-bronze new leaves. For foliage, I added bright green Patrinia gibbosa and a few Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) fiddleheads.

Does anyone recognize Gumby and Pokey? As a child I watched their primitive claymation antics on TV faithfully. I wished I could lift my leg back and skate quickly and magically the way Gumby did! I saw Pokey’s orange coat and thought he’d be a good prop for today’s arrangement.

The pitcher belonged to my grandmother and is J & G…