Saturday, April 5, 2014

Garden work and a dogwood day………………



I can recall the years not so long ago, when I could 
spend from early morning until the late afternoon working 
non-stop in my garden. Not so these days------back, hips 
and shoulders don't always cooperate!
I would put in many more hours if I could because I 
love my garden to always look well cared for, tidy, 
thriving, and alive with colors be they white, bright, 
pastel or even just a hundred shades of green. 



We only have one remaining dogwood in our back garden 
and it's delicate, almost puny. We actually thought it 
was dead and were about to cut it down a couple of 
years ago - thankfully we left it alone and it's 
blooming well in front of the potting shed. 


Seeing these beautiful, simple flowers change from 
green to bright white in just a few days with warmer 
temperatures and bright sunshine is amazing. 
Driving through the neighborhoods the dogwoods are 
everywhere, white mostly but also shades of pink. 
The delicate flowers, don't last very long, but then 
the branches leaf out and remain bright green until 
turning red in Autumn. A truly lovely flowering tree.

Will soon be time to add some outdoor accessories to the
deck - gazebo tea times arriving soon if this lovely 
weather continues.


 The flowering Eastern dogwood ~ Corneus florida

My few hours working in the garden today were perfect.
I managed to get several things done and enjoyed checking 
what needs to be pruned and tidied, or pulled out and 
replanted with fresh and new in the coming weeks.
Trips to the garden center are on the calendar.

14 comments:

  1. Hello Mary:

    We do know exactly what you mean. In our gardening days, of more than twenty-five years, we too would often work as many as ten hours without a break for much the same reason, that we wished everything to be ordered and, as far as possible, immaculate. We are, very largely, relieved that we no longer have that responsibility.

    Your garden, from the glimpses you show, looks truly wonderful. We are certain that it affords you much pleasure.

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  2. How wonderful dear! Thinking of you... I have missed you and I hope you and dear Bob have been doing just fine. I can't wait to see what accessories you'll be adding to your gazebo. Love ~ Vanessa

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  3. Your dogwood looks so pretty. We have a different type of dogwood here that doesn't bloom until later. Mr. Comforts and I are heading outside to fill the raised beds with tons of soil and compost. It will be back breaking work for sure!
    xo
    Penny

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  4. My back does not like weeding these days, either. Your dogwood is so lovely. I really love dogwoods. Mine will be blooming later than yours. We just planted it a couple years ago and I hope it thrives.
    Have a great Sunday!

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  5. Dogwoods are such lovely trees - the dogwood is our provincial flower. Not blooming quite yet here, but soon. Your photos are a foretaste of what's to come. Tea in the gazebo sounds like a great plan. Enjoy your day!

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  6. Suzanne of Simply Suzannes at Home

    Dear Mary,
    The photos of your Dogwood tree are beautiful. I've seen many flowering trees, but not this one. It's quite spectacular.
    I bought several branches of faux dogwood stems at Pottery Barn a few years ago. They were terribly expensive, but they look real . . . and I love that. I have them displayed in a tall vase in my master bath. I smile every time I look at them.
    Your posts are always a gently reminder of who relaxing and peaceful it is to garden.
    As always, thanks for sharing with us.
    Have a beautiful Sunday,
    Suzanne

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  7. What a wonderful way to spend the day Mary, aches and all! To lower yourself into a relaxing bath after a hard days gardening, knowing that your garden will reward you with exceptional beauty is an absolute pleasure.

    Save me a seat for tea please:)

    Sending lots of love.

    Paul x

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  8. The dogwood is so lovely! I'm glad you got to work in the garden. I have to be patient - too early to do much work, but I do plan to rake all the leaves I left covering and protecting the garden this week.

    xo
    Claudia

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  9. Oh trips to the garden center at this time of year - DELIGHTFUL!
    Love dogwoods and what a treat it is to have one right there in your
    own backyard. In front of our house are two pink ones. The colors
    are just starting to appear. When in full bloom whether white or pink,
    dogwoods are just beautiful in the Spring. Happy Spring time to you and Bob.

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  10. Mary, I made my first trip to the nursery yesterday. Today a much needed rain set in running me back indoors before I could plant anything. My dogwoods are just now beginning to bloom. They should be in full bloom during Holy Week. Have a wonderful week. Bonnie

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  11. The dogwood pictures are fabulous. There is a woods across the street from us - wild and beautiful and we noticed last year that there was a small wild dogwood, just a few flowers. I'll be watching for more this summer.

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  12. So true that everything takes longer. We probably would feel better if we didn't compare. Your yard looks beautiful and your dogwood tree is delightful. We don't see them often in our corner.

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  13. One of my favorite trees, I eagerly await the blooms each year!! You all are a bit ahead of us - still sparse here in DC. But the early cherry blossoms are starting to flower. Here's to a glorious garden season. Cheers!

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  14. Your garden looks amazing enough to me!!

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