My pre-Spring garden today -

Thankfully the light rain showers, with very little wind, of yesterday

 and early this morning helped rather than hindered the garden blooms.

So, sharing many of the current colorful blooms outside the windows today,

all of which are definitely ahead of recent years when our winters were

 much colder than this one.

Thanks so much for all the generous comments on my previous post about 

reaching my sixteenth anniversary of starting my blog.

You are the best of friends.

Hugs - and have a great weekend.

Gardening with pink and green. . . . . .

What a crazy Spring we are having here. Everything started blooming during an

 unusually mild February, then three unexpected below freezing nights devastated

 so many trees, shrubs and plants.

 New growth is showing on many things, but the azaleas, hydrangeas,

 jasmines and fig trees certainly took a beating and are struggling.

Sharing a few photos of what we are seeing right now this somewhat

wild April day.

The day started out dark and damp. Threatened by possible severe storms 

which have been forecast, we're hoping "possible tornado activity" will miss our area.

 As of now, early afternoon, the sun is in and out but the winds are gusting and strong.

Some azaleas have not done as well as usual due to the cold, however we still

 have some lovely ones dotted about the garden. In the back right the wisteria

 on the arbor (not very visible) lost its first leaves however new ones are now

 peeping out, hooray!

My tulips are almost over but have been pretty as only tulips can be - always a favorite 

around here.

Dogwoods are blooming everywhere now, apparently not damaged by that freeze thankfully.

Birds are busy in the search for a mate!

Chinese snowball bush starting to bloom.

Hostas and Solomon's Seal pushing up fast and furious - love how they add such

 a bright green punch to the waiting to be raked and tidied up dead leaves in the beds.

Just a teeny hint to the resident gardener!

What's growing in your garden this week?

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.

First Days of March in the Garden. . . . . . .

Already some beautiful blooms outside the cottage windows. 

Took these photos yesterday. Meanwhile, this morning, after light showers

during the night, the temperature has cooled a little. Now, the sun is shining and

 the daffodils have opened all around the cottage and are blowing in the breeze.

 I'll be out there again later to cut some for a vase. 

Hope your garden is waking up now that Spring is on its way.

For those of you still with snowy conditions, I hope you enjoy 

looking at the flowers, and that yours will soon be adding color 

to your very own garden.