Most of the blooms are shot from spots around my own backyard, but I also can’t help myself when I’m at our garden centers to pull out my iPhone and have some fun!
Category: Spring
Finally, Springing!
Tonight I am thoroughly excited to watch Season 5 Game of Thrones where the phrase of the Stark family is “Winter is Coming”, I have to say I am even more excited to say today that “Winter Has Ended”!
Sunshine and warmer temperatures in the 50’s drew me outside to do some yard work. Cleaning up sticks and debris that have accumulated through the winter, I happily found new growth under many of my perennials and my bulbs peaking through the beds. The grass grows a little greener every day, waking from it’s dormant sleep. A few days ago, there were literally 50 robins in my front yard. I guess that was a sure promise of Springtime. It reminded me of Florida and if you had a yard full of Ibis, watch out for hurricane weather! (Okay, the robins are a better forecast!)
I had just spent the week leading into Easter visiting family in Florida and the weather was beautiful in the 80’s every day…. so coming home was a little depressing with rain and 30 degrees all week. I feel like dancing this weekend… tiptoe through the tulips and all that kind of joy! We are getting ready for fish tacos on the grill! Happy Spring Everyone.
Very Early Spring
Very Early Spring by Katherine Mansfield
The fields are snowbound no longer;
There are little blue lakes and flags of tenderest green.
The snow has been caught up into the sky–
So many white clouds–and the blue of the sky is cold.
Now the sun walks in the forest,
He touches the bows and stems with his golden fingers;
They shiver, and wake from slumber.
Over the barren branches he shakes his yellow curls.
Yet is the forest full of the sound of tears….
A wind dances over the fields.
Shrill and clear the sound of her waking laughter,
Yet the little blue lakes tremble
And the flags of tenderest green bend and quiver.
There are little blue lakes and flags of tenderest green.
The snow has been caught up into the sky–
So many white clouds–and the blue of the sky is cold.
Now the sun walks in the forest,
He touches the bows and stems with his golden fingers;
They shiver, and wake from slumber.
Over the barren branches he shakes his yellow curls.
Yet is the forest full of the sound of tears….
A wind dances over the fields.
Shrill and clear the sound of her waking laughter,
Yet the little blue lakes tremble
And the flags of tenderest green bend and quiver.
Circle of Life
Easter Brings Renewal
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel)
“Christ’s resurrection is not an event of the past; it contains a vital power which has permeated this world. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up. It is an irresistible force. Often it seems that God does not exist: all around us we see persistent injustice, evil, indifference and cruelty. But it is also true that in the midst of darkness something new always springs to life and sooner or later produces fruit. On razed land life breaks through, stubbornly yet invincibly. However dark things are, goodness always re-emerges and spreads. Each day in our world beauty is born anew; it rises transformed through the storms of history. Values always tend to reappear under new guises, and human beings have arisen time after time from situations that seemed doomed. Such is the power of the resurrection, and all who evangelize are instruments of that power.”
Marching forward
It definitely was a long winter this year. I have to admit that I absolutely love the snow especially when its peacefully falling or on a beautiful sunny day being out in the fresh crispness of winter. By the time there are layers of ice where you need snowshoes to walk on it, and the snow is now shades of charcoal along the roads, I long for Spring.
I love what Charles Dickens wrote about March because it the truth living in the Northeast! I am on the lookout for that first “Spring Day”!!
Kim
Blooming
I am noticing spots of color popping up here and there on our weekend drives and around our own yard. Daffodils and forsythia have been the first to arrive; so sunny they almost shout “spring is here!” There are many other promising shoots showing up as well! We found out that we have a pear tree which will have blossoms soon along with a lovely white cherry blossom tree. I noticed the giant fuzzy bumblebees are out working overtime, so I cannot wait to see the results of their hard work!
The koi fish have unfrozen and come back to life in the little pond we have. I’ve been researching them and almost gave them all away until I found out the importance they play in the balance of the pond…. so I’m only giving half of them away!! The real chore will be to spring clean the pond – this involves rubber gloves, draining the fishy water and pressure washing the basin and stones. I am sure to blog about that experience! Keeping it positive… I truly do love how the previous owners built it as a creek tumbling down into the pond. It is so peaceful. I look forward to getting water plants and flowers for the area.
We are putting in a fence for our pool (required) but are extending it so that our shepherd Bailey has some room to run off leash. This will allow me to plant a greater variety of flowers without the deer eating them. I have more research to do and maybe finding a local garden club!
Spring continues to show signs of color and warming trends! The Northeast seasons are definitely to be experienced and enjoyed!
Kim
Yesterday the twig was brown and bare;
To-day the glint of green is there;
Tomorrow will be leaflets spare;
I know no thing so wondrous fair,
No miracle so strangely rare.
I wonder what will next be there!
~L.H. Bailey
Bear Encounter
It was a beautiful day today in the high 70’s and clear skies. Everyone is coming out of hibernation from the winter… even me. I had come home from errands and John pulled in the same time, so we decided to take the dog on a walk up toward the reservoir. Nothing eventful during the walk, until after dinner when Bailey started growling so John got up to see … well the neighborhood bear came out of hibernation too!
People were pulled over taking pictures of the bear in our neighbor’s yard and we pulled out our camera too…. Floridians remember? He disappeared for awhile and then reappeared with the neighbors garbage can and was having a nice smorgasbord in their yard! I remember Isabelle told me of the “neighborhood bear” and to not put out your garbage until the morning of pick up!
Spring has brought many new creatures out and about in the New Jersey wilderness. I think Ill be watching my step a little more.
Spring Discoveries
This photo was the first sign of spring in our new home. The promise of bulbs pushing through the last snow…
Well the snow has officially melted and we are having extremely lovely weekend weather. Of course we started working outside today and my husband John found all kinds of treasures as he was cleaning up the backyard. The previous owners had lived here more than 20 years and their grandson grew up in the house, so there are signs everywhere of him growing up… From an old Tonka dump truck to the treehouse that had been torn down to rocks stacked to make a fire pit. We both went through things thoughtfully. Finding an old wind chime and scouting a spot to place it. I sorted through potted perennials with plans to plant them in hopes they will spring up again. We even found a fallen St Francis and found him a new place to stand among the garden. Cleaning up and adding touches to make it our own. Spring is showing promise of new discoveries.
Changes in Latitude 