As predicted and undesired, the snow came. Two to four inches predicted. Some last night. More this afternoon. And, maybe more tonight. Guess we'll be out shoveling this afternoon. I understand that some folks are looking forward to working in their gardens this weekend. Good for them. I'm envious.
Below are some photos I just took to show the amount we have gotten so far. It looks worse in the front of the house. There is more on the way. This batch came from the North. The next batch will be coming from the South. I'm not complaining. I just want Spring to get serious.
I took this photo because I like the linear effect.
The plot on the far side of the step is where our Kockout Rose bushes and Catmint plants are located. We trimmed them back a couple of weeks ago in preparation for Spring. We do it every year. As they grow, I will post photos.
This robin is probably asking the same question I am, "If robins are a harbinger of Spring, where did all of this snow come from? And, it's cold, too".
There is something quite beautiful about a cardinal and the snow. He was in the burning bush just on the other side of the fence. As I was trying to take the photo through the window, he must have caught the motion and moved to a safer place. He is still beautiful.
I waited a while and sure enough the cardinal returned to the tree and the bush.
A telephoto lens works wonders, even when shooting through a window.
Wednesday, was a wonderful day. The temperature reached into the 60's. The sun shone brightly. The wind was not very strong. It was one of those days that you can look forward to so that you can work on the yard/gardens.
Before lunch we brought out the patio furniture - six chairs, one big table, one small table and an umbrella for the big table. The lawn got cut and edged.
After lunch it was time to trim back plants, clean up dried leaves, and apply the first round of fertilizer. It took a few hours. The final thing was to enjoy a glass of Jacob's Creek Cabernet Sauvignon on the patio.
Yes, today was a wonderful day. Just another among lots of wonderful days. Hope yours was wonderful, too
This is the first year in the last few that we were able to enjoy the Peonies. Maryann has taken such good care of them. The right fertilizer at the right time. Nature has helped tremendously with the proper amount of moisture at the proper times. So, dear friends, enjoy these gifts of nature.
Now that Spring is making a concerted effort to show itself, it is time to take a few more photos of our gardening efforts. Maryann is a very good gardener and I do just what I am told.
This morning, after breakfast, Maryann was out watering the plants. The lighting was perfect for photos. May 1, May 10, are the days of the previous photos. You can get an idea of how things are coming along.
We also were able to do some entertaining on the patio on Sunday.
We played croquet with our neighbors and had a delightful supper. We look forward to more good times before it gets too warm. #432
Spring is making itself known around our house. At this time of year it is appropriate to clean windows on the outside. It seemed right to get a photo of a clean window.
The urn of flowers is a special. Maryann loves to put plants together in the urn to add that special touch of flowery goodness and beauty for the times we look out or sit on the patio.
The Irises are special. At one time they were on the patio just to the left of the urn of flowers. In 2000 they were blooming like this just in time for a get together on the patio to celebrate our youngest daughter's wedding. They are so beautiful and the time was so special that we could not get rid of them when we redid the patio. Now we can see them from our sun room. The neighbors can enjoy them as well.
I mentioned that there would be more photos of the garden coming. The storm did come and go. We were fortunate. We had about 1/2 inch of rain, but no damage. There were lots of twigs in the front yard from the neighbors trees. The yard looks pretty good now.
We had been planning to participate in the neighborhood garage sale this Saturday. There were a number of items we had "stored" in our "basement boutique". What the kids didn't want were to go on sale. As you can see from the photos we didn't have a lot of stuff. The biggest thing we would like to get rid of is the patio table, chairs and a chaise lounge. We even priced them as a set. Alas, they did not sell. We did have a great time. We did get rid of a lot of stuff and there are now some things we will donate to agencies who can see that they get to folks who will have a need for them.
passed through our area last night. We were spared from any damage. Now it is time to pick up the debris that was blown in. I plan to take some photos and post them later.
The other day you saw a posting of our gardens and the things we had done to it. Today it was was warm enough to plant the rest of the plants. It was a great project, but tiring. The temperature was in the 70's and it was easy to work up a sweat.
I hope all is well with you, and if you can get outside and work in the garden, do it. If that is not possible, take time to visit a garden near you. Spend time enjoying the plants and flowers.
Today was cool and great day to get out and do gardening things. We spent time at our favorite local nursery. We bought some annuals that we will plant later this week when the weather gets a tad bit warmer. The morning temps will be around the mid to low 30's so we had to bring the plants inside.
We bought some potting soil and additional cypress mulch for the patio. I had to remove the old plants from a couple of pots on the patio and replace them with the new potting soil. After all that we were ready for a cool drink on the patio. Drinking a beer and letting the cool breeze wash over us was just what the doctor would order had we consulted one. As were cooling off our daughter called from Portland. What a great way to relax. Life is better than good. I had promised to take some photos of the flowering plants in the front garden. The Azaleas we planted are blooming, as are the Bleeding Hearts. The Red Bud tree on the East side of the house is almost at its prime. The close-up I took of the blooms in it show at least one green leaf. If you click on the photo with the Red Bud close-up you will be able to see the green leaf better.
UPDATE
The pictures of the protected plants were just added this AM. Enjoy the photos and the weather in your area. #419
At last, Spring has arrived. It seemed to take forever, but it is here at last. We had been planning to make changes in the front garden. The Azalea plant wasn't doing well. I guess you can only transplant them so many times. We selected three new Azaleas with variegated leaf coloring and red flowers. Pictures will be forthcoming when they bloom. We also had a couple of Muhgo(sp) bushes were added. In a couple of weeks we will also add Impatiens. We had to move a Bleeding heart plant closer to the sidewalk on the right. It is now closer to the front door. The rain has been helpful for all of the plants.
In the back we had two Hosta plants moved from the front and planted to the right of the tree on the patio. The photos of the Red Bud tree are included just to let you know it is about to really get beautiful which it does every year at this time.
I hope your gardens are coming along nicely too. As for you folks who are moving toward Fall and Winter, enjoy these photos and return the favor when your Spring returns.
Since our return trip we have been doing lots of things to catch up on all of the chores we had to do to get the old homestead back in order.
While working on the patio about a week ago we discovered we had a visitor. It came from under the hot tub. I think it has moved on. We haven't seen it since. It was nice to have him/her around.
At that time we were having some plants replaced that didn't make it from the patio redo last year. Now were are waiting for the new chair covers. When they arrive and are installed there will be photos forthcoming. In the meantime, enjoy the turtle and the Clematis.
and it is only the 25th of March. The temp is somewhere around 80, the Southern breeze is quite brisk at times, the birds are singing. Maryann decided that we need to get the gardens ready for the season. So we got to work.
Yesterday we went to the Home and Garden Show in Kansas City and got all kinds of ideas. When we returned home we were greeted by the sight you see here.
Ralph and the guys came by and gave the lawn its first mowing of the season. We were quite surprised and that spurred us on to do the yard and garden things we had already planned.
The forsythia don't look too good this year. We think the cold weather got to them and froze most of the potential blossoms. The leaf buds are forming well. This may be the last year for the forsythia. As for the Buddha garden, we took a lot of the dead leaves out of it. It looks fantastic
As you can see, someone has to do the hard work. Plants seem to thrive more when the are fed. We took out a lot of dead leaves, live grape hyacinth and weeds as well.
Maryann thought this small group of grape hyacinth would be OK. However, as we all know only too well, they do spread out throughout the garden. I even took some out of the yard next to the garden plot.
Rabbits can wreak havoc in any garden. We have decided that this is the only bunny that is welcome. The others are bunny-rabbitus non gratis. There was one occasion last year when the neighbors were walking there dog near this garden plot while a rabbit was munching on some bleeding hearts. Charlie liked the exercise. I can't vouch for the rabbits perspective. It didn't stay around long enough to even register a complaint.
There were lots of stray grape hyacinths in this garden and clover too. We think we worked about five hours getting everything done. There is just something about doing a job like this that brings a sense of joy and accomplishment. I have never claimed to be a gardener and a professional once told me I would never make a farmer. I was not crushed by that pronouncement. Maryann still doesn't buy it and finds ways for me to practice gardening skills.
Later this year when the plants begin to bloom I will post some more photos. Now I think it is time to finish my beer and get to the shower.
I took this photo because I like the linear effect.
The plot on the far side of the step is where our Kockout Rose bushes and Catmint plants are located. We trimmed them back a couple of weeks ago in preparation for Spring. We do it every year. As they grow, I will post photos.
This robin is probably asking the same question I am, "If robins are a harbinger of Spring, where did all of this snow come from? And, it's cold, too".
There is something quite beautiful about a cardinal and the snow. He was in the burning bush just on the other side of the fence. As I was trying to take the photo through the window, he must have caught the motion and moved to a safer place. He is still beautiful.
I waited a while and sure enough the cardinal returned to the tree and the bush.
A telephoto lens works wonders, even when shooting through a window.
Enjoy!
I took this photo because I like the linear effect.
The plot on the far side of the step is where our Kockout Rose bushes and Catmint plants are located. We trimmed them back a couple of weeks ago in preparation for Spring. We do it every year. As they grow, I will post photos.
This robin is probably asking the same question I am, "If robins are a harbinger of Spring, where did all of this snow come from? And, it's cold, too".
There is something quite beautiful about a cardinal and the snow. He was in the burning bush just on the other side of the fence. As I was trying to take the photo through the window, he must have caught the motion and moved to a safer place. He is still beautiful.
I waited a while and sure enough the cardinal returned to the tree and the bush.
A telephoto lens works wonders, even when shooting through a window.
Enjoy!
