. . . . . and the fragrance is divine!

At the kitchen window

We were so lucky.  

No hail, no damaging winds, no tornadoes. . . . . . . . just a lot more heavy rain!

The flowers and shrubs were battered but with a little sun they are looking up.

Saturday blooms. . . . . . . .

I cut these for the kitchen window yesterday afternoon after a long wait

 for blooming - everything seems a bit behind due to the crazy

 up and down weather pattern.

After tonight I think the chance of a frosty night will be over - birds will be 

nesting, flowers opening, and I will be on my way to the garden center 

for new Boston ferns for my porch hanging baskets. Hopefully the oak 

pollen will soon end and preparing the deck and gazebo for some outdoor

evening dining can get underway.

Have a great weekend dear friends.

Wet Sunday in the garden. . . . . . . . . .

There are no trumpets welcoming the imminent arrival of a new

season, just a quiet pushing through the ground of bright green tips, the

 silent opening of buds, then pops of unexpected color as one looks out

 at the early morning.

Doesn't seem possible that well over a week of February has already

 disappeared into history! 

The days fleet fast for me at this time of life, how about you? 

Some people complain of days such as this one when the weather

is not to their liking. . . . . . whereas I gather each day around me thankful

it came and that I'm here to enjoy it.

February can be dreary, but this morning in my garden, I spy little things

 Nature is sharing to brighten my spirit, to be thankful for, to smile at, and

to know there is another Spring on the way.

 ~ Raindrops on daffodil leaves ~

~ Tufts of bluebell leaves pushing through garden mulch ~

~ First daffodil bloom of the year ~

~ Buds are opening ~

Today was already 60F at dawn, rain fell in the night, pansies are happy. . . . . . 

. . . . . . and the robins are back searching for worms - here's just a few of perhaps

 thirty who gathered on the front lawn!

Later today it will reach the mid-70's with perhaps some thunder.

The rain is light and intermittent - typical of February here in the 

southeast.

My thoughts this morning:

A Sunday in the cottage makes sense - there is much to do with our 
leaving home drawing closer.

I should bake something - or perhaps make a trifle! 

I need to clean the front porch as the beastly cute squirrels pulled the 
birdseed bell down, gobbled it up and left a mess!

Speaking of plants - we so enjoyed Raleigh Little Theatre's rendition of 
Little Shop of Horrors last evening!

Great cast as always, and special guests seated at the end of our row were 

North Carolina's Governor and First Lady, laughing along with the 

rest of us. I was happy to see them supporting this always fabulous local 

amateur theatre group.

Stay calm and don't breathe in . . . . . . . . . .

Kitchen windowsill blooms from the garden.

Not much is looking fresh and sparkly around the cottage this morning. . . . . . . .

and it's about to get worse as the sanding of the bathroom walls and ceiling, which

 had to be refinished after stripping wallpaper and removing the popcorn, 

takes place this morning prior to painting.

George and his wife are good workers - staying until 5:30 pm yesterday, 

and arriving on time this morning at 8:30 am - that's always a plus

in my book!

I'm expecting a good result and it will be wonderful getting rid of the dark

 wood trim and having fresh paint everywhere. When they are finished, 

we'll be getting prepared for the installation of the new vanity/basin top on

 Thursday, lovely new faucets, and the new glass shower doors will be made

 and installed later. 

Thanks for the good wishes yesterday. I wonder why we put ourselves

 through these often stressful scenarios around our homes, don't you?  

The crumbling and cobwebbed mansion of the doomed hermit, Miss Havisham,

 in Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations comes to mind - and I guess I

 prefer not to leave my home, sometime down the road of life, in such a state!

See you here tomorrow for Michael's weekly online art fest, Scribble Picnic -

visit now and join us, we'd love to have you. This week's theme is fun -

Grandfather Clock.

Blooming April in the southeast. . . . . .

Steaming coffee mug in hand, still in my robe (dressing gown for my Brit readers),

 hair like a bird's nest from a rather restless night, I 'walked the bounds' of my little

 secret garden after the sun came up on this beautiful Sunday morning.

So many of the azalea buds were zapped in the three nights of below freezing 

temperatures a couple of weeks ago, especially the big loose flowers of my

favorite, George Tabor - the lovely pink one in the center of the collage.

They budded so early in February - an unusually warm month this year -

 and along with my hydrangeas, jasmines and the two fig trees, really took

 a beating. The deeper pink double blooming azaleas are fine, and red and

 white ones are just starting to show color so are in good shape and will look

 pretty in another week or so, perhaps in full bloom for Easter.

Other pretty shrubs and plants in the collage are doing well -

they include variegated Solomon's Seal, Spanish bluebells, hosta,

vining akebia, tulips (dark Queen of the Night and Pink Diamond), and

 pansies and violas in pots along the front walkway.

Shortly we are heading into the garden to work for a while. It's a comfortable 52F

 and Bob has to mow again as the grass is growing like crazy.  I will deadhead

 the daffodils, fertilize some perennials, pull a few weeds. . . . . . . and pick a small

bunch of bluebells for the kitchen windowsill.

I do believe Spring is really here at last.

Hope your day is beautiful.

The Saturday garden. . . . . . . . .

I started early as showers were forecast - but they haven't arrived yet! 
It's already mid-afternoon and sunshine is plentiful.
A little garden work encompassing trimming, pruning, deadheading.
I can't do what I used to in the garden, and sadly my now 20+ years 
old garden is really in need of some professional help.
Meanwhile, Bob mows, trims and blows, and although I say
it myself, we do have the most lush front lawn on the street. 

Back garden. A fairly quiet respite filled with bird songs. . . . . and these 

days with pollen.

My favorite azalea  - George L. Taber

Honeysuckle on the back fence seems early this year

Wisteria leafing out and climbing over the arbor - I bet I'll miss
the blooms whilst away!

Perky variegated Solomon's Seal

All images from today's garden here in North Carolina.
I'll post soon on where we're headed next week.

Step into my April garden. . . . . .

Just a Sunday saunter about the garden to view the 

changes a very warm week and a heavy rain brought.