Flowers Everywhere!

Hello friends, it's been a while since I've posted.  I do hope all is well with you.  This sweet little Eastern Bluebird visited us one morning.  

Life has been quite busy for us.  We've had a new roof installed and a new refrigerator delivered that took a whole month because of bad advice. Our old refrigerator was 28 years old so we really were happy for its long life.  We understand new appliances don't last as long now so here's hoping for the best with the new one.  Enough complaining as there is much to be happy about.  Seeing the American Goldfinch visit the feeder is always welcome. 

Spring is here in all of her glory.  I've said it before that it is almost an embarrassment of color all around us now!  In our garden the daffodils have bloomed, the dogwoods are blooming along with the azaleas, wisteria, and viburnum along with many plants in the perennial bed.  It's a great time for most of us if you can stand the enormous amount of pollen.  I have been sweeping up on the patio frequently and Grayden has been using the blower for that job as well.   The pollen from our oaks reminds me of tumbleweeds as the pollen gathers together.  When Spring blooms in Virginia it comes all at once! 

Instead of posting about our garden as I have done many times in the past, I decided to show you all the florals we recently viewed in Colonial Williamsburg the week of April 10-18.

We passed this field of yellow buttercups on our way to the Duke of Gloucester Street.  Do you know the little test of holding one under your chin tells whether you like butter or not?  If it glows, you like butter like I do!

I know that they are considered weeds, but I enjoy seeing them growing.  The bees and some birds eat them when food is scarce.  Unfortunately they are poisonous to livestock and cause blisters in their mouths if eaten.  Farmers do not like them in their fields for this reason.

Behind most homes in Colonial Williamsburg there are lovely gardens that one is welcome to visit.

 This garden was full of lovely tulips!  

Tulips were the queens of the gardens in Williamsburg during this week. They really don't like the very warm weather.  Luckily we were there to see them before the hot weather of Virginia begins.  The Blue Poppy was dancing in the wind as we continued on our walk.

The above two photos do not do justice to this lovely blue, yellow and white garden. 

This white rambling rose was quite spectacular growing on this picket fence. The honey bee agreed.

Though wisteria is on the invasive plant list it is quite beautiful growing on this fence with the Dogwood tree.  

In front of the home there is another lovely bed of tulips.

Grayden and I never tire visiting Colonial Williamsburg.  Thank you for visiting with us! 

 

 

Springtime Thoughts

Spring is peaking in our garden!  There are so many trees and shrubs and flowers showing off their beauty.  About this time in my garden I want the beauty to stay around a little longer.  I'm not in charge (thank goodness), so everything has its season and blossoms for a certain period of time.  Today was in the 90's so I'm afraid the spring blossoms will be fleeting soon, but more lovelies will bloom as summer begins.

"Came the spring with all its splendor.  All its birds and all its blossoms.  All its flowers and leaves and grasses. "

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

All of the dogwoods in our yard were planted by the birds and I do thank them very much for the gifts they give.  We get seedlings coming up all the time and place them where we want them.  The dogwood is the Virginia state tree.  It's one of my favorite trees to blossom on our property.  They really do light up our windows with their lovely white blossoms.

If you know of a more lovely blossom, please let me know.

The wisteria are now buzzing with bees and showing their beauty.

Azaleas are blooming!

Can you believe we bought all of these azaleas 45 years ago for one dollar a piece in one gallon containers?  It takes time to grow a garden, so start today.  You won't be sorry!

I've also had to remove the chipped paint from my Mama's pots and give them a nice coat of paint.  I like to plant annuals to brighten the patio and the front porch.  I had to giggle to myself at this point as they look like cows to me at this stage!

I think my Mama would like how they look now.

We continue to have quite a crop of mushrooms growing through the chipped up oak we had removed last year.

This one grew to be quite large!

Isn't nature fascinating?  I stand in amazement over the beauty of our earth!

The Columbine is blooming.  These sweet little flowers pop up all along the perennial bed.  I have red ones as well that I need to photograph.

I am sure that this Viburnum will be turning into white snowballs with the warmer temperatures.

The peonies survived the removal of yet another black gum tree a couple of weeks ago.  

"In the Spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."  Margaret Atwood

I so enjoy gardening.  I hope you have been able to plant something to nurture at your home.  It doesn't have to be on a large scale.  A simple pot of flowers will make you smile.

I recently won a giveaway at Teresa's blog.  She sent me the most lovely bead that she made.  I told her I thought I would put it on a key to a cabinet, but instead decided to put it on the pull chain of the fan in our kitchen.  I think it looks nice there and will remind me the kindness of friends here in Blogdom.  Thank you Teresa

Teresa's hand made bead is on the right and Mary Engelbreit's teapot is on the left.