Feeling behind in a season already filled with blooming plants, I stepped back to reconsider timing, pressure, and what it means to grow a garden at its own pace rather than the pace of the marketplace.

Late winter can feel endless. Growing blue larkspur offers a way to move the garden forward — even while beds are still being built and spring feels just out of reach. Here’s how I’m starting larkspur this season and what I’m learning along the way.