Preparations for Easter. . . . . . . .

Just a peek at what's on my table for Easter.  

Shopping for a few items at Trader Joe's yesterday, I just couldn't resist a bunch

of purple iris and another of heavenly scented white stocks - two of my favorites,

and for under $9.00. Oh the fragrance, gorgeous.

Tucked in just two stems of hydrangea leaves, and a sprig of going-to-seed

 Italian parsley, for some bright green.

We're working in the garden today, just unbelievable to see how many plants 

have changed in the past couple of days following the heavy rains. Today is 

mostly clean up from the storms. 

Bob just passed the window with a ladder and the blower so must dash now!

More photos to come soon!

The Diversity of Tulips. . . . . . .

The beautiful parrot tulips have 'flown', I knew they would not stay 

forever. The wildflowers are still holding their own though and with a quick trim

and fresh water they were ready for new blooms, this time from the garden.

A spray of my favorite George L. Taber azalea for height, and a bunch of

 creamy pink and rose voluptuous double or peony tulips, bulbs purchased from

 Costco and planted last Winter. There are so many tulips to choose from and
have to say Costco's prices were quite remarkable for fancy ones such as these.
I used to always order from catalogs and spent a small fortune - these were not
 expensive. Some are in pots gracing the walkway to the front steps, others are
 in a raised bed along with daffodils and bluebells. I cut just five as I do like to

see them growing in the garden.

 Tulips are stunning flowers. For many, many years I've always planted traditional

 standard one color tulips, usually the late blooming tall Darwin, Cottage or

 Mayflowering - although they bloom in April here in the southeast.

  Many shades of pink, golden yellow and the darkest purple 'Queen of the Night'

 were favorites, always gorgeous and perfect for cutting, their tall stems being

 sturdy and resistant to Spring storms. Sadly tulips are not perennial in my

 area, Summers being much too hot, humid and dry. Now and then they will pop

 up the following year but are never as beautiful as in that first bloom year.

Do you have a favorite tulip?

Do you grow them in your garden, or perhaps in pots? 

Language of flowers. . . . . . . .

 Yesterday we headed to the garden . . . . . . many hours of hard work, not play. 
Bob was more diligent than me, I had to give up and let him carry on alone
 until supper time.
Sun shining, slight breeze, temperature actually reached over 70F by mid-afternoon. 
We have a lot of damage from the recent ice storm, split branches on small trees and 
shrubs, the worse being a large and lovely variegated privet, which has to 
come down now. 
We let it go with only minimal pruning over 10 years and it became a tall tree.  
Located behind the gazebo it gave us privacy. It became a favorite perching place 
for the birds on their way to feeders and bird bath.
It will be missed, a lot.

The first daffodils were a shock - they were all lying on the ground. Stems bent 

from the ice were unable to hold up their golden heads.

I cut them and brought them in the cottage, looked for a short vase and decided 

two of my favorite mugs would be perfect.

 . . . . . . and today is the day for changing the magazine tear sheet on the 
refrigerator door. Remember I shared this easy display location a while back.

Winter is on the wane and I'm now enjoying this beautiful display of daffodils.

Daffy-down-dilly 

Has come to town

With a yellow petticoat 

And a pretty green gown
~ Nursery Rhyme ~