Annie, I sure can relate. I am still working full time, which also includes a 1 1/2 - 2 hour commute to DC each way. I sit in front of a computer all day. It makes me mentally exhausted, and all I really want to be doing is physical stuff outside in my garden. Even though I think I can get an hour or two in when I get home from work, I usually don't - just too tired or the daylight hours are gone or the weather isn't cooperating, so all I really have is the weekends. Just as I get on a roll, it is time to start the work week all over again. I say this a million times, but good gosh I can't wait to retire. If all goes well, I will be retiring at the end of Feb - just in time for the 2017 gardening season.

I love this time of year with all the spring blooming shrubs and trees. I don't have any forsythia, pears, or plums that you mentioned are so pretty at your place - mine are the magnolia and weeping cherry that you saw in my blog post yesterday, and later dogwoods, redbuds, native azaleas, and mountain laurel.

First of all, if you ever want forsythia, let me know and I'll send you some nice rooted starts....I've got tons of them every year. They'd be easy to mail, they're about 1-2 foot long "whips" with a root clump.

RE: Work and weariness. I hear you. I've always said there's two very distinct kinds of tired: The good tired that comes from physical work/exercise and the bad tired that comes from mental activity with physical inactivity. After a day editing, i feel wiped out and totally unfit for much of anything. After a day of hard outdoor work, I want a shower, a hot meal and I feel great! Sleep like a baby.

I am not quite ready to retire (somebody has to earn money to feed all these cats....) but I am trying to cut way back on what i accept. it's made a big difference having at least a few days a week when I can get out of the office and do other things. I overbooked my schedule this past month and I am paying for it....

I've got dogwood and redbud up my way too, but I have the devil's time with azalea and rhododendron...some kind of virus in the soil. They just won't grow.