More Flowers and an Epiphany

Phlox

Rocks

Phlox on Rocks

Crocs

Crocs on Phlox

Crocs on Phlox on Rocks

Rocks in Crocs

Dear God, I have to stop letting my seven year old read Dr. Suess to me!

Two Sure Signs of Spring

We had a pretty mild winter here in Massachusetts, and you'll get no complaints from me about that. Even so, the Spring time is always exciting for me. It's when things warm up and green up, baseball season starts, and lots of other fun, outdoor activities get under way.

One of the first signs of Spring around my yard is the appearance of the crocus, that delicate, little flower that is the first to foist its blooms in the garden each season. When I see these, I know winter has come to an end. It just fill me with joy.

The next sign of spring can't be found in my yard, but it's ubiquity in the urban and suburban landscape all over this nation is a sign that winter's blanket of cold and gloom is about to be lifted.

I am talking, of course, about the hot dog cart!

Sure, there are hardy vendors that, like evergreens, never go away for the winter, but they are few and far between. Before long, hot dog carts will be in nearly every community, serving up their wares for another season of hungry customers looking for a quick, inexpensive and delicious meal.

Spring never looked so delicious!

Lady Slippers

The Lady Slipper or Cypripedium reginae, is a rare, wild orchid native to the northern USA and southern Canada. It is the state flower of New Hampshire and Minnesota. Lady Slippers are considered an imperiled species; it's illegal to pick them or uproot them in many states as a result.

We're lucky enough to have several clusters of Lady Slippers in our woods and they were in full bloom over the Memorial Day weekend.

April Showers bring May Flowers

It was a rainy April, but I am starting to see some positive results with the forthcoming blooms!

The Bleeding Hearts are coming out-we'll have tons of humming birds at these soon.

The daffodils are hanging in there too.

The forsythia is in full bloom.

The hyacinths are all up.

Creeping phlox and grape hyacinths caress the rocks in the garden.

This creeping phlox is swallowing this rock.

More phlox and daffodils.

Here's a shot of everything!

I LOVE SPRING!!!!

The Early Bloomers

It's the middle of April and the garden is starting to come to life! This is my favorite time of year, when everything renews for another season of bloom and color. Below are the first sprouts of a hosta. In a month or so, their foliage will dominate many of the borders in my garden.

Here are some snow crocus- which are nearly done blooming believe it or not- and some alyssiums, a prolific early  bloomer in our garden.

I wouldn't be spring without daffodils!

Here's another view of some daffodils poking up through the blue rug juniper.

Here's a close up of some more alyssiums.

The truest sign of spring in our yard is the first activation of the rock garden waterfall! This small waterfall attracts frogs and birds all spring, summer and fall. We usually end up with three or four resident frogs throughout the season.

This year we will continue to add to our portfolio of perennials and, in a few weeks, the vegetable garden will get planted. I will be planting cucumbers (Little Miss' favorite), tomatoes, beans, peppers, zuchinni, eggplant, summer squash, pumpkins, herbs, and lettuce.

I'll be taking lots of pictures of the garden this year and I have even been toying with the idea of starting a gardening site. Stay tuned.....