Spring infatuation

My new darling, Arctostaphylos 'Austin Griffiths', has been blooming for about a month now. I'm in love with the whole manzanita family, but this little charmer catches my eye every time I come home through the back yard. Since I had only planted him in mid-Fall, I covered Austin with frost blanket during our winter cold spell. But I suspect he might have been just fine without any special treatment. He's quite wonderful this spring. I expect my infatuation to mature as Austin does - at eight feet, there'll be plenty to love.