berries

We're getting ready for the sweet sweet strawberries to start growing in the garden. There are 10 strawberry plants already in the garden. I checked on them today and they are beginning to flower! I have only tried growing them one time in KC and there were only about 3 berries on the plant, which were promptly snatched up by birds so we never got to taste them. :{
I'm still waiting for my basil, lavender, marigolds, cherry tomatoes, and bleeding hearts to sprout. Seeds take too long to grow. I'm too impatient. I saw some beautiful flowers at Wal-Mart today, but I avoided buying them. I had never seen them before. They had huge purple flowers on them but I don't remember what they were called. It was difficult, but I restrained myself.
Also, there has been no sign of critters in the garden since I put out the cayenne pepper. I am so happy about that. Keely has been barking a lot less at night, presumably since nobody is out there feasting on the compost. Yay!