Out & About

The first phone call I received this morning was an urging by the husband to "Try to go outside and take a photo- the light is just right!" I spent the rest of the day admiring the mid-spring flowers gracing the gardens wherever I went.

I felt fortunate indeed.

The morning light definitely had a blue cast...

A maple tree blossom... thankfully I am not allergic to the pollen.

The dogwood blooms are just beginning to open- one of my favs!

This crowd of tulips is a riot of color... at the Cleveland Botanical Garden! 

 However, I think I prefer the subtlety of this plum/burgundy tulip.

But I found myself rooting for this lone ranger.

What's blooming in your neck of the woods?

Nature's Artwork

I, am a gardener. From the heart.

As you can imagine, for me- spring is a season like no other.

 I think because of its hope and promise, 

I cheer on the tiniest bud amazingly poking out of hard, brown wood.

Spring also makes me chuckle- just look at this gal with her hat.

Early morning brings great rewards to those of us crazy enough to go for a walk in the garden. Sometimes the light is just right- to catch the dewdrops looking like glass beads.

I love discovering the buds. They can be easy to pass right by.

Have you ever wondered what part of that aggressive wisteria plant you want to keep? The part that flowers.... here they are. Its hands. If you prune these off, you've pruned off the wisteria's prize blooms.

These average looking leaves are the precursor to the incredible, huge flowers of the tree peony. Not to be confused with the peony that we all know and love. Check back in about three or four weeks and I'll show you what I mean.

                 A more unusual flowering bush with such dainty blooms...

The flower buds and opening flowers of the holly:

And my favorite of the day- this darling little miniature daffodil.

How is your garden growing?

And now, I invite you stop on over to Splenderosa's monthly By Invitation Only party to see what spring means around the world.

Back to Spring

Summer has bowed out gracefully...and just in time! 

Many of our early spring blooms have come and gone already

 with temps in the high 70's and 80's for a week.

Sharing with you our remaining gifts from Mother Nature:

Pretty Pink Magnolia

Narcissus

Helleborus- such a happy crowd!

Chionadoxa with the periwinkle blooms- yum!

And a great start to the highlight of spring in our garden- the tree peonies. 

Look at that growth! 

My guess is the saucer-sized blooms won't arrive for weeks yet, though.

How is your garden doing?

Spring on the Lake

with the deep blue, mesmerizing water...

the sand...

and our helleborus happily blooming- yes! 

It's a gorgeous spring day here- how about you?

Spring Has Sprung

at least for now! 

Heading outdoors for the day to appreciate this gorgeous spring weather, 

which is a good few weeks ahead of the average. 

Enjoy!

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Springing Out

Off to discover and enjoy this spring day ahead!

Isn't this newborn fern bizarrely beautiful?

Reality Check

Preferred:

Just as you all are admiring your bulbs cheerily peeking out of the soil or your lilacs now in full bloom, I was convinced that we, up here in the north, would join you soon. Well, not quite yet! 

Received:

And it is not supposed to stop until dinner time.

 C'est la vie!

Soon, very soon...

It Won't be Long

It's usually right about now that I am ready for spring.

 

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It won't be long now! Just a matter of weeks...

Fresh and Green

...to celebrate a rare day above freezing for the winter season!

(I would love to live in a home with these green colors. Of course, in Italy it works!)

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