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, April 1, 2013

What a HUGE Difference a Year can Make

Dad Adams'  Daffodils 2012
Check out my new Photo Blog on Wednesday... Click HERE .


Welcome to April...  My blog looks like Spring  but it doesn't feel much like Spring here on the mountain yet.  Recently I pulled out last year's March pictures taken in our yard... Oh My Gosh!!!  I was SHOCKED to think that this March is so very very different.  It's April now --and we still don't have much SPRING at all here on the Cumberland Plateau.  A few things have bloomed and are blooming --but not much at all.  Now I wonder if we will have much color at all this year....  The cold weather in March has done a 'number' on so many of our buds/blooms/flowers....   It's CRAZY!!!!

I hope I'm wrong and hope that April will turn out to be like March was last year.  I hope that I'll be showing pictures to you at the end of April that are similar to last year's March photos..... BUT--who knows?????  We'll just have to wait and see.   Someone said that we may just go from winter to summer!  HOPE NOT!!!!

Here are some comparison photos for you today.  You won't believe it either!!!!!  I put the dates when the photos were taken,  and tried to make the photos similar to each other...  Hope you enjoy them.  You can click on them in order to see enlargements.


Dad Adams' Daffodils 2013

Rose Flowerbed and Front Yard 2012

Rose Flowerbed and Front Yard 2013
New Flowerbed 2012


New Flowerbed 2013  (The Hyacinths hated the cold weather.)

Redbud Tree 2012
Redbud Tree 2013


Round Flowerbed 2012

Round Flowerbed 2013
Side Flowerbed 2012

Side Flowerbed 2013


WELL---that's it... Photos don't lie!!!!!  We just don't have much spring here yet AT ALL...  I hope that your spring is better so far...  AND---I hope that in a month,  I'll look back at these photos and know that Spring was JUST late --and that we didn't lose alot of our Spring flowers!!!!!  (Right now,  it looks like we have lost many Tulips and Daffodils...)

Hope you had a great weekend and Easter!  Hallelujah---Jesus Christ has risen!!!

Hugs,

80 comments:

Ms. A said...

It does look different, but at least you have quite a bit of green. I'd much rather have green than brown.

Regina said...

Beautiful scenes!

Happy Spring.

xo

Jeevan said...

Here, summer arrived very soon… sorry to see the beds without flowers. I too hope it may be late but spring doesn’t skip. The last year pictures are so delight to see, Betsy.

eileeninmd said...

Wow, Betsy. It does not look like Spring has spring yet. We are always late bloomers here so I can not complain. Your flowers from last year are all beautiful. Lovely photos.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

the hubby was looking at the heating - power bill & noticed we have used more this March than last March. so wild what you notice. these are shocking views. where is spring? i wonder what that means will it be shorter or what? will summer never show up or what? to many questions? have a happy April. i love the new blog look. guess we will have to enjoy Spring in our hearts. big big hugs. here's to a great week. ( :

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Wow, I knew it was bad, but seeing it in photos really brings the point home. I do hope we have a little spring before we get to the hot and humid of summer.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Hang in there Betsy, things will be blooming before you know it. I like seeing the comparisons.

Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

linda m said...

Wow! It is amazing how different your yard looks this year compared to last year. Sure hope we don't go from winter to summer. Everything here is very barren - no signs of any flowers. Most of our snow has finally melted but we still have piles of it around. Hope you had a nice Easter ---Christ is Risen!!!

Eat To Live said...

I was just talking to my daughter about how much colder this spring is than last year. I was out in the garden working last year at this time... Now!! way to cold out there for me and..... we are suppose to get snow today.

Your yard is beautiful Betsy!

MadSnapper said...

this year looks good to me, it is green just not blooming yet, maybe by next week it will be blooming. i am just hoping summer doesn't fall on us in April since March was cold for us. i prefer our winters over our summer all the way...

Janice K said...

I know what you're talking about. The problem is, I think Spring came about two to three weeks early last year, and I think it's going to be at least a couple weeks late this year. I have had daffodils in bud for it seems like a month now, but they just won't pop.

Have a great day!

Catherine said...

Gosh everything is so behind isn't it? I don't think I will see my flowers coming up until June at the rate we are going. Oh well. What can you do right?

Wishing you a terrific week Betsy!
xo Catherine

Miss Debbie said...

You just never know, do you? Things are a little slower here, too.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

WOW Betsy, It is amazing the difference from last year to this year. I reckon we are cold everywhere this year. Lovely Lovely photos of last years flowers I really enjoyed seeing them all. Hugs Judy

diane b said...

A great series of shots showing the difference in the flower beds from the same time last year. I guess all years are different. We have had a much wetter year than usual. Lots of plants have died with root rot. Yet others are flowering as if it was spring not autumn. Weird weather everywhere.

LV said...

No matter the season, your yard is lovely. That is one of the prettiest areas where you are. You two picked the right spot for an enjoyable retirement.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Wow! That's a BIG difference. I'm glad we've put off our spring trip to the Smokies. That poor redbud tree. But I'll bet it will be glorious when the warm weather finally comes.

Big Dude said...

Definitely a big difference this year and one that I'm enjoying a lot more. If April will be more of a spring month than going directly into summer, I'll be a weather happy man.

Lynda said...

I'm glad you posted that. However here we have had a lot of blooms already - - but they keep getting cold and sometimes freezing at night. The great news is you will have flowers to show us long after ours have quit for the year! That took some time to dig those out. Thanks for doing that.

HolleyGarden said...

Yes, we are at least a month different between this year and last. Last year I had a rose bloom in February! February!! This year, I did have roses blooming in March, but then we had a couple of freezing nights, and all the new growth got hurt. Guess I pruned too early! Would would have guessed that winter would have stayed so long?!

MTWaggin said...

You can sure tell those bulbs got snowed on. Be happy for the water and everything in its time!

Fun60 said...

It's only when you compare the photos that you see just how far behind we are. It appears to be the same throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

Arkansas Patti said...

Last year's Spring was beautiful but it lead into a beast of a Summer. I am hoping this late Spring will mean a milder summer. One can hope.
Our Redbuds are still not blooming either.

Nellie said...

Yes, it is definitely a later spring this year, and i don't object at all! It may mean that the summer will not be as hot! I remember last summer was a very hot one.

Nellie said...

Yes, it is definitely a later spring this year, and i don't object at all! It may mean that the summer will not be as hot! I remember last summer was a very hot one.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Well, this is just sad and pathetic!! This spring had been one of a kind. We are to get more snow tonight! I LOVE your gorgeous header!!!

Terry and Linda said...

We look like your February! It will be weeks before we can get to where you are.

I love your header!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

NCmountainwoman said...

Same here...everything is way behind last year. I'm afraid it's all going to pop out at once when we have a few warmer days.

Sylvia K said...

That is an amazing difference!! Everything is just the opposite here in Seattle as we've had a very early spring and our world is BLOOMING!! Hope you have a great week with some sunshine and warm weather for you and the flowers!!!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Seems like spring is late everywhere. I still have snow covering the whole yard,but the temperatures are warming up,so there is hope.

Chatty Crone said...

We do have more spring then you do - but you will catch up and when you do - phew - your yard will be awesome. sandie

Carletta said...

I was looking for my Easter photo and did the same as you Betsy at comparing the photos from last year. This time last year my redbud tree and apple and cherry trees were blooming. Not so this year. I'm with you in hoping it is just late. I'm hoping the warmer temperatures this week will start things going. :)
You still have some lovely blooms!

Debbie Taillieu said...

Oh my goodness! It certainly has been a different kind of winter everywhere!
Reno has had (unusual)mild winter. All the trees are in full bloom as of last week!
I'm sure April will bring a full color palette to your yard!

Have a fabulous day!

Debbie

Ann said...

I did the same thing here. I looked at last years pictures from this time and couldn't believe the huge difference. Hopefully we'll all be seeing spring time soon

Cheryl @ TFD said...

It does look so different from last year and so does ours. You're still ahead of us, the grass there is much greener. We're chilly again today after such a warm day yesterday. But, the sun is shining! I'm sure it's only a matter of time that I'll be talking about how hot it is. Ha!

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

Seems like it's a cold spring all over. We had a couple of warm days, and a few early crocus opened, but tonight will be in the 20s again. I'm ready for spring to come and stay a while!

Sharon said...

I'm king of like you Betsy, I'm afraid we are going to go straight from winter to summer with no spring at all!!

Debbie Jones said...

Quite a difference, but you still have a beautiful yard! Wish we could have more flowers here in Arizona but the summer heat kills most of them off right away. Enjoy your April!

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Same thing at our house. Last March was full of flowers. Not this year!

Karin said...

That side by side comparison is the proof! Unbelievable! Can't count how often we get a late spring, everything rushes to bloom and then, bang, it's summer! I absolutely love a long, lingering spring - but I'm not holding breath!

Wendy said...

What a difference! Spring was so nice last year - early here too and warm!!
I remember some of your photos from last year. I love the way you create your garden and would love to borrow some of your ideas. The daffys around the tree with pansies at the front is especially sweet.

That rosebud tree sure looked spectacular last year at this time! Boy are we late this year!!!

The wind is howling as I write this and the lake still frozen in places. Can't wait for the really nice weather. Seems like ages.....
Hugs

Nancy said...

So much different from last year but I know we are all going to enjoy all the beautiful flowers when they do arrive.....

So glad you had a wonderful Easter and we are blessed.....

carolina nana said...

I am amazed at my photos from last year also around here. I had azaleas blooming before this time last year.
I hope the temperature doesn't turn off really hot and destroy all the spring blooms !
Looks like we are in for more cold weather at the end of the week before a really warm weekend,we'll see !!
Blessings
Marilyn

Beth said...

Oh wow, Betsy! The difference is huge! I don't feel nearly as badly about my patch of brown earth with a few green stubs peeking out.
Some of your flowers look like they are in shock---poor darlings.

We did get to work on constructive stuff today and we got some answers about the SLOs that we are all required to create (Student Learning Objectives). However, the specifics changed drastically from just last week. So we shall see. This is our trial year---it doesn't count against our school, so we are all taking a deep breath and helping each other out.

Grandma Bonnie said...

The rhododendron in your header is gorgeous. I too am wondering about spring. I sure wish it would warm up just a bit. I was itching to work out in our yard today. I went out for a bit and had to give up when my ears started freezing. Happy Monday!

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, I hope you will have sunny warmer weather soon. Good for you, good for the flowers, and the birds, too! Have a fine day tomorrow!

Connie said...

Wow, that is quite a difference between the two years. We are waiting the late arrival of spring here too, but at least we had a couple sunny days here lately.

Shug said...

Beautiful purple background and the flower header is so eye appealing!
What a huge difference that a year can make with the weather changes! Your yard is always so pretty. I'm pretty sure a lot of hard work goes into making it look so lovely.
hugs,
shug

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Stunning differences Betsy and so indicative of the unpredictability of Mother Nature.
I sure enjoyed the recap of last years beds though!
xx
PS: It's weird here too, officially its Autumn but nothing cooler about it (so far), its still humid and HOT.

Rose said...

I was looking at my photos thinking about doing a similar post comparing last year to this, but didn't have enough of the same subjects to do it. But this really shows the difference.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

This spring has some catching up to do.

Susannah said...

Especially beautiful photos from last year. But there is a huge difference between last year and this. We are so late up here in NY. We even had snow here today. It was fun seeing your photographs, Betsey.

Susannah

SquirrelQueen said...

It is amazing how much difference there is between the two years. Our flowers are about halfway in between your photos.

I hope you and George had a great Easter weekend.

Small Kucing said...

From winter straight to summer?? Hope not. Spring is a wonderful season. Too good to be simply "missing"

Hootin Anni said...

You manage to show us the beauty of your world and season. Absolutely gorgeous, and a promise of more beauty yet to come!!!!

PS...yes, Irene is my mom's name too.

DeniseinVA said...

A big difference! I was watching the news last night about the Cherry Blossom Festival and they were interviewing people who had come from all over the world to see them. What a shame, they're going to have to go home before they actually bloom. Everything is so late.

Randy said...

How wonderful that you have it all documented with photos! The differece is really amazing.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

You said it right...pictures dont lie and they show how different this year is. I hope for Spring soon!

Brenda said...

Hey, my dear friend. It has been a long time since I've visited. It's been real busy and I haven't blogged since Nov 2012. I just can't find the time to get back to it. It takes a lot of effort to keep up with it. LOL! I enjoyed your photos, but SPRING had NOT SPRUNG yet...even here in Texas. Here's to hoping we see those beautiful blooms soon!
Love you sweet friend. And I hope all else is good in your world.
Brenda

Small City Scenes said...

You know you just cannot rush Mother Nature. In due time she says and you will be double awestruck. The flowers will come . MB

Latane Barton said...

Yes, Easter was early but Spring is being very late. What a difference your yard makes, Betsy. As you say, photos don't lie.

Our daffodils are gone, the forsythia is on the downward swing, The pink 'tulip' tree is gone in some places but still blooming in others. So, we aren't doing too badly.

Andrea said...

Hi Betsy, i guess everyone in the temperate climes are experiencing delayed spring, true to the belief that climate change makes you colder and us hotter! Argggh! My hipeastrum on the other hand somehow some of them flowered early now, when normally they flower after heavy rains in May. They are so confused too.

About my moon, i am actually awed because that was my first moon shot that is lovely, haha!

Twilight Man said...

The weather is most parts of Asia has gone crazy this year with extremely long winters. Your flowers are so refreshing and beautiful.

I will be flying to Shanghai tomorrow to enjoy the sights of Spring but I have to bring Winter coats along instead!

Linda P said...

The weather has slightly improved here, but still very cold. We had a beautiful sunrise, but also overnight frost and have been told next week we will have rain rather than snow! I'm still waiting for our daffodils to bloom and there's not much else happening in our little garden. My husband is hoping to go to the allotment for a few hours so thankful that it's possible to do some digging after the snow has melted.

Dee said...

I know exactly what you mean about the weather. This morning when I left for work, it was 28 degrees outside. That's just crazy, but our friendly meteorologist in PA says that it will get warmer towards the end of the week... here's hoping.
beneaththeelmtree.blogspot.com

Ginny Hartzler said...

Totally sad. It must have been a mammoth job finding these old ones, then putting their mates together. We are still using the electric blanket and running the heat!

Ginny Hartzler said...

Hey, what's with the comment moderation, this is something new.

imac said...

Were on holls in 2 weeks time so it will be sunshine in the sky lol

Sally Wessely said...

Things are really slow here this year too. Interesting to see the difference between the years in your garden.

troutbirder said...

Great comparason. And yes I like last years March much better...:)

Linda G. said...

You have shown marked differences of the growth stage from last year to this year. I hope we see pretty blooms as Spring continues its arrival at this unhurried pace.

Rohrerbot said...

Wonderful comparisons! That's why I love the blogs.....a diary of our work and efforts. You can make a data chart. To be honest, I'm glad winter was back this year for many people. That winter last year was abnormal and it was hard to hear about all the stress and devastation going on from the lack of water. Hopefully things will get back on track again. PS. Hyacinths rock!

Joy said...

You have better spring there than we have here:)
Here is still snowing. No signs of spring at all.
Have a nice day and hugs from me.
It is me Joy:)

Sikoreczka said...

Beautifull garden :)

Anonymous said...

It does look different! At least you have green grass. All we have here is snow!

Diane AZ said...

Hi Betsy, Really interesting comparison of your garden this year with 2012. I wonder what this spring will be like and if you'll see as many flowers. Your redbud tree was so pretty in bloom March 2012!

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Awesome photos. Your flowers are so beautiful. I love all of the pictures. You have a beautiful home. I'm really looking forward to spring really coming. I sure hope it gets warm soon!

Are We There Yet! said...

We have some sunshine today and I thought I would get out and do some yard work.... But man is it cold. I was only out for a few minutes and had to come back in.

A Colorful World said...

Wow! Huge difference Betsy! I am amazed at how little growth there is.

Anonymous said...

Your spring flowers are simply gorgeous Betsy. All of which we can not grow here in the deep south.. sigh.