A Good Day in the Garden

 ~ Dogwood ~

On a beautiful spring day there's really nowhere else I'd rather be than in my garden. 

~ Eastern Redbud ~

For it is here that I find peace.

Everyday worries fade to the background as I breathe in the freshness of the air and take in the beauty of the colors quietly dotting the landscape.  

 

I think of my mother as I tend to the wee grape hyacinths.

She grew them in her Michigan garden where they multiplied like crazy.  She also fostered in me a lifelong love for gardening.

 Today was a day for picking up sticks.

Every time I walk around the yard I seem to end up with an armful of branches.  Windy days seem to shake them loose from the trees.

While the earth is still soft, the weeds usually slip out easily.

It's always satisfying to remove the entire root along with the weed.

While down on the ground pulling weeds, I noticed this little blue flower coming into bloom.  How pretty!  I'm not sure what it is.  I'm thinking some type of phlox.

It was a good day to trim back the ornamental grasses as the new green growth is coming out now.  

 

 All of that bending over made my back a bit stiff.  

Seemed like a good time to stretch out on the grass.

My gardening tends to be a mix of work and play.

~ Loropetalum ~

While sitting on the grass I looked to my left and saw this.

He has the right idea, don't you think?

He is surrounded by dwarf Loropetalum shrubs.  Are you familiar with them?  I wasn't until we moved to North Carolina.  They are blooming all throughout our neighborhood now and look so pretty.  We have some in the front yard that are huge.  I am hoping that this dwarf variety stays true to it's name.

 

 After deciding that I had lounged on the grass long enough, it was time for a nice stretch. 

Bend and stretch and reach for the sky.

Oh my, that is one gorgeous sky!

 Back to work.

This early spring day was the right time to apply fertilizer to the rose bushes.  I am in the process of changing over to only organic fertilizers. 

It often seems like we wait so long for spring's arrival and once it gets here we have to pay close attention or we might miss something.

For instance, most of my daffodils and hyacinths have come and gone.  Soon these, too, will be done until next year. 

 When the day's work was done it was time for a coffee break.

While sipping my coffee I watched a pair of butterflies "dancing" together as they flew higher and higher.  Once they were out of my sight I watched a pair of blackbirds flying back and forth across the yard most likely setting up housekeeping in one of the tall trees.

Spring has sprung and everywhere I look there are signs of life.  

 Happy Spring!

May you find joy in the beauty of this new season.