We're "in bloom" down south!

One outdoor day was missed due to rain and being busy with other things, but yesterday I was out "beating the bounds" and overwhelmed by the early blooming garden. Our mild winter with no snow or damaging ice storms means the garden is ahead of schedule. I was really surprised when I rounded the house to the side gate arbor to find the 'trumpet vine' covered in blooms!  I had cut this busy clambering member of the crossvine family Bignonia capreolata 'Tangerine Beauty'  down to the ground just before Christmas!  We always wind outdoor lights around the structure and many were no longer working. To remove the old ones and add replacements I needed to get the vine off!  

On looking up this vine online I was shocked to see the price of a rather small one gallon potted one is $50.00 - however I do know it will never die or stop growing so one wouldn't be throwing money away. Mine was planted about 20 years ago, when the arbor was constructed. It has been cut back constantly as it has a propensity to travel. . . . . . . .all over the garden, even up the house which I don't want so I cut off those babies when I see them heading that way.

 

Tangerine Beauty Crossvine

"A colorful staple for trellises, archways, fences and arbors, the Tangerine Beauty Crossvine boasts showy, bright orange-yellow flowers that last from spring through fall. Plus, it’s more low-maintenance than other vine varieties, clinging easily to whatever area you choose in your landscape with blankets of green foliage and bright blooms. It’s vigorous, strong and fast-growing."

"The Tangerine Beauty thrives wherever it’s located, even on the ground – especially since it’s highly resistant to serious insect and disease problems. Its adaptability is second to none, this semi-evergreen vine tolerates heavy shade, poor soils and cold winters."

Bags of mulch awaiting and calling to us!

Spanish bluebells opening, no leaves appear to have been nibbled

 by the deer population this year, however.................

..........guess who arrived in the back garden last evening, a grey fox!

Some of you will recall we had foxes with litters of five in our garden

 for several years. Being this is the time (March/April) for birthing I'm

 hoping this was a mom perhaps looking for a home, and we may see

 her family soon. Favorite places for hiding the babies previously were

 under the potting shed and once under the gazebo, both easy to

 view from our kitchen and living room windows. 

Early blooming azaleas - many more to come and perhaps opening

 over the weekend with some light rain in the forecast.

I will share them later.

Last but not least, my favorite hosta popped through this week and

 is growing fast and unfurling those beautiful leaves. I'm hoping the

 deer, or other hungry nibblers, don't discover it!

Have a great weekend. . . . . . north, south, east or west!

Sunday in the Garden -

It's on days like this when all the hard, dirty, tiring work pays off!

Again, I walked early in the garden today to take these photos.

A little more rain during the night worked wonders and much is

 blooming. 

Unfortunately the pollen continues and air quality is poor with a gusty

breeze blowing. Not sure whether to head outside and do some garden

 work or just sit here and continue sneezing!

We still have a lot to do regarding hardscaping - a new

low wall across the back bed, re-do the pathways, and perhaps

remove a couple more very old trees, one of which was struck by 

lightning and is damaged. 

As we know. . . . . . ."a garden is a thing of beauty and a job forever."

'Trumpets' and strawberries!

After some thunderstorms last night and an early morning shower, 

the sun is out, shining brightly into the east facing upstairs bedroom. 

Another 80F day ahead but no garden watering required.

Yesterday I almost fell over when I checked the arbor and

 noticed such a mass of blooms on the trumpet vine - the best I can recall

in the years of growing, being cut down, and climbing up again! Maybe it was

due to the very mild winter weather.

Bob at work in the garden, plenty to keep him busy.

Note we also have fairy lights on the arbor - it's very bright 

and cheery in the evenings.

  Yesterday we also heard there were fabulous local strawberries for sale at a

 roadside stand nearby. Bob gathered his mask and car keys and took a

 quick ride - his first time out in a week - to get some.

There can be no 'PICK YOUR OWN' customers in the berry patch this spring due

 to the virus isolation rules, so this farmer is bringing them to us. He expects to 

have berries for at least two months so I know we'll be back often.

Yes,  I'm washing them well!

These have to be the best tasting strawberries ever, and I like that the

 basket held assorted sizes.

Don't forget, Bob will be pulling the winner's name from his hat on Monday!

If you didn't leave a comment on my post regarding the book giveaway, there's 

still a chance to win if you go to this post, GIVEAWAY

Hope you join in.