Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, March 19, 2012

March is Busting Out All Over

No---it's not JUNE---but we had summer-like weather last week here in Tennessee.    Our yard truly thinks that it is late Spring right now!!!!!   (Wonder what this crazy weather means for our upcoming Summer.  Yipes!)  We had our windows and doors opened almost all week ---and even though it was truly pre-spring here,  we pulled out the short-sleeved shirts,  sandals,  and just 'pretended' as if it were summer!!!!!

Our yard is looking more and more beautiful...  The Crocus blooms are gone now,  but we still have Hyacinths and Daffodils blooming like crazy.  NOW--our Tulips are blooming also...  I am sharing with you some of our yard as it is now...All pictures were taken on March 14 or 15, 2012.  Be sure to click on the pictures in order to see them larger.

The one above is our view from our front porch --looking out toward the street.  You can see daffodils, hyacinths,  and tulips blooming.  The Roses are looking healthy and will probably be blooming by the first or middle of May.




I love Hyacinths.. We have 2-3 different colors --but this one is one of the prettiest ones this year.




I love our Semps (Sempervivum)....  We have several groups of these throughout our yard.  They are also called Hens and Chicks.  The mother (Hen) makes lots of babies..  Once the Hen blooms,  she dies,  and the babies take over --and keep the process going.




These Daffodils are on the side yard flowerbed.  Aren't they pretty?  I can see these from my kitchen window when I'm washing dishes.... We have several types of Daffodils (I grew up calling them Jonquils) --and in another blog, I'll show you some close-ups of some of them.   There are also tulips in this bed most of which haven't bloomed yet.  The little bit of blue in the bottom left corner is some of our ground cover,  our Periwinkle.




Speaking of Periwinkle,  here's a closeup view of some of ours.  If you ever want a hearty and colorful ground cover,  I highly recommend Periwinkle.  We also have English Ivy in  some places --but even though I like it,  I like the Periwinkle more.   It gets so thick that the weeds can't come through.  YEAH!!!!




Here is our newest flowerbed.   You can see it in the first picture.  It's in front of our large rose bed.  In this bed we have Daffodils,  Hyacinths and Tulips planted... Aren't they pretty???




If you have been to my blog for several years,  you will remember our  "Dad Adams Daffodils"... George's Daddy gave us these little guys about 2003 or 2004...  They are so pretty...
  



Here is another picture of our side flowerbed --looking the other direction from the previous one of the side flowerbed.  You can see one RED blooming Tulip in this bed --who thinks he is a Daffodil.... ha ha ...  You can also see one of the Periwinkle beds.  They are wonderful to have in the 'hard-to-mow' areas.




Finally,  here is one of our three round flowerbeds in our yard.  We call this one the Lamppost flowerbed (for obvious reasons)... ha...  See all of the pansies blooming --which we bought last Fall?  They will bloom until the really hot weather gets here --about July.

Right now in the bed,  we have Pansies,  Daffodils and Hyacinths.  In a few more months,  you'll see Lilies in this bed.

Hope you enjoyed seeing more of our pretty Spring flowers...   I cannot tell you how exciting it is to wake up each morning,  take a walk around the yard (with my camera of course) and find such joy in seeing all of this beauty.

Have a wonderful day---and PLEASE--whatever you are doing,  take time to stop and 'smell the flowers'...

Hugs,
Betsy