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 30, 2015

Lots and Lots of DAFFODILS in our Yard

1. The First Daffodils we ever planted... George's Daddy gave us these little guys so we've always called them the Dad Adams Daffodils.  They are very special to us.
Well---March is almost over.   Hard to believe that time is flying by!!!!!  The good news for us is that,  after a frigid weekend (with FREEZE WARNINGS and temperatures dipping down into the low 20's) both Friday and Saturday nights,  our yard seemed to make it through the freeze without much damage.  The worst hit were our Hyacinths --but the Daffodils and Pansies seem to be okay.  We covered some of our new growth (including roses)  --so hopefully,  all of them will be fine... AND--we are hoping that this will be the last of our killer freezes this Spring.

Today I want to show you all of the many different types and colors of DAFFODILS we have in our yard.  I grew up calling them JONQUILS  (my mother called them that),  but I've also heard others call them BUTTERCUPS... Whatever you call them,  they are so pretty.  Many states plant them along the interstate highways --and they will spread and are so gorgeous...

When I ask most people their favorite Daffodil,  most will say the 'normal' total yellow ones... I agree---but there are also some other beauties.  SO---today,  look at all of these and see if you can pick a favorite (other than the 'normal' ones)....  I have two favorites which are both exquisite.  One is the white one with a red trumpet (No. 13) --and the other is the total white one (No. 14).  BUT---some of the ruffly/frilly ones are neat also...

NOTE:  We used to know all of the specific 'names' of our daffodils --but the last couple of years,  we have added more and bought them in collections.  With a collection,  one never knows what he/she is getting... SO---we decided just to enjoy them and not worry about their names.   Sit back,  get a cup of coffee or hot tea and enjoy our Daffodils!!!! Most all of these were taken around 3/26/15.  (Click on them for enlargements.)


2. Yellow Petals/Yellow Frilly Trumpet  



3. Yellow/Yellow Daffodil with the Pointed Petals



4. Some smaller Quail Daffodils we got a year ago;  They will bloom and bloom!


5. Another yellow Daffodil --but with an orange trumpet



6. A beautiful Daffodil (love the 'frilly' orange and yellow trumpet)... This one turns more and more YELLOW as it ages, and ends up being totally yellow.



7.  Now to more of the ones with White Petals:  White Petals with a bright orange trumpet;  Another gorgeous Daffodil!



8.   This one has a neat frilly yellow/orange trumpet which spreads out through the entire Daffodil.   (Picture taken by George)



9.  And if you like more of a pastel look,  this one has white petals and a soft and frilly apricot-colored trumpet.



10.  Here's a group showing off their white petals and pale yellow, long trumpets.


11.  Here's another one with white petals and a yellow trumpet.  BUT--unlike the one above, the trumpet on these is opened and flatter.  See the differences?




12.  Here's a very interesting Daffodil with the white petals growing all around the orange/yellow trumpet.... 

13.  White petals/Red bordered trumpet  (Definitely a favorite of mine!)



14.  Love this one too;  It is a solid white --although the sun causes the trumpet to look like a very pale yellow... What a gorgeous Daffodil!!!!
Well---you get the idea!!!!  There are MANY different Daffodils --just like there are when talking about most flowers... Some of them are similar --but if you look at them closely,  there are usually distinct differences.

We have more Daffodils to bloom in our yard ---so depending upon what they are,  I may have some new ones to show later... Hope you enjoyed seeing this group today.  Now it's your turn.  PICK a FAVORITE.. I even numbered them for you --so that you could choose easily!!!!!!  Let's see which one comes out the winner today!!!!!

Have a blessed HOLY WEEK---leading up to EASTER this coming Sunday!  Enjoy SPRING and the beautiful flowers.  Thanks be to God.

Hugs,

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Our Yard in EARLY Spring--Photos taken on 3/24/15

The first Spring flowers to bloom this year were our CROCUSES.  We had quite a few of these beauties around the yard --but they are now gone. SO,  I wanted to share this one with you,  taken on 3/15/15.
On Tuesday,  March 24, 2015,  George and I 'walked the yard' ---looking for new Spring growth... We have both been busy cleaning the yard after all of the damage and devastation caused by our Winter Storms.  At one time,  we were not sure what Spring Flowers we would have this year, if any.   BUT---things are beginning to really look good, thanks be to God.  SO---today (since I have showed you so much doom and gloom),  I want to share what is happening in our yard right now!!!!!!  Things are beginning to 'green up'.... WOW---so exciting!!!!

Hope you enjoy seeing the beginnings of Spring in our yard!!!!  You can click on the photos for enlargements!


We have many DAFFODILS (Jonquils) ----of all shapes, sizes and colors--in our yard... I love Daffodils,  don't you?



I love the colors in this HYACINTH.... It's got some purple in it --and also some dark burgundy... 



This is our big Rose Bed (but the roses won't bloom until May).  SO---we've added many other pretty flowers to this bed.  Today,  you can see Daffodils,  Hyacinths,  and one lone Tulip blooming.  AND---there are many more blooms to come.



Most of you know that we plant our Pansies in late Fall to give us a little color in the yard during winter.... WELL---even after a harsh winter this year,  the PANSIES are coming back and many are blooming.  Don't you love this red/black one?



I love this close up of this HYACINTH.. The light and dark pink colors are SO pretty...



Our PERIWINKLE Ground Cover is blooming.  We have Periwinkle planted in several places around the yard --and it's so pretty this time of year.  I love the BLUE flowers.



Here's another of my favorite DAFFODILS in our yard...  SO pretty!



Here's another pretty HYACINTH blooming in our yard.  I love this hot pink/rose color. 



Our Front Yard
This photo shows you the front yard ---showing how everything including the grass is beginning to turn GREEN...  This is so exciting for us --especially this year.   We just experienced one of the worst winters we have ever been through.  I hope and pray that we never have another one.   BUT--the good news is that things are coming back and we are beginning to 'feel' spring in our yard.

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of these early colors.  Since we plant many flowers,  we'll be sharing more and more as the season progresses... BUT---I do ask for prayers and good thoughts  that the upcoming cold front (Fri/Sat) here won't bring too much cold weather which can damage some of these little Spring beauties.... Friday nights low is supposed to be about 23 and Saturday night,  the low is supposed to be 26.....  GADS----tell me it 'ain't' so!!!!!

Hugs,

Monday, March 23, 2015

Winter Storm Number SIX ---2/26/15

Evergreen Fingers  (3/26/15)
I know that EVERYONE (including me) is TIRED of WINTER...  BUT--since this is my journal,  I have a couple more posts to publish regarding our crazy winter this year.  SO--I apologize in advance....

We had 3 winter storms the week of Feb. 16---with the Ice Storm on the 21st was the worst one (causing lots of damage to our area).  BUT--after the 21st,  winter was not finished with us yet (and still may not be).  There were two more storms the next week.  Luckily,  the one on the 24th missed us.. BUT--we did get SNOW (not much ice, thank goodness)  on the 26th...

SO--today,  I'll share some pictures from that day for you... It wasn't much snow  but it was pretty since it covered up all of the damage from the storm on the 21st.   For a few hours,  WHITE covered the area and helped us forget most of the damage done around us...

Hope you enjoy the pictures (even if I'm showing snow and NOT Spring today)... Click on them for enlargements.


The Girl who LOVES Snow (and not ICE) was busy taking pictures.



This is the picture I was taking... This is one of our Redbud Trees with  a round flowerbed below.  See the Daffodil sticking up on the right????



Deer Tracks in the snow



I love seeing the way the snow was clinging to the trees.  Pretty,  huh?



Our huge Icicle on one side of the house  (caught in one of our windchimes);  The temperatures stayed below freezing for over a week --so each storm just added more and more to the ground/area... This icicle kept growing for a week and a half until the sun finally came out and began to melt it.  It finally fell to the ground --taking the windchime with it... (Luckily, nobody was underneath when it fell...)  NOTE:  You can also see one of our 'dangling branches' we had to get the professionals to cut down.  The branch looks like it was hitting the house --but it was not.


Snow on one of our Holly Bushes




Another picture showing another round flowerbed and the road flowerbed



REALITY.......  One of MANY dangling branches left from the Ice Storm on 2/21;  I marked the breakage with a star... We had to get these professionally taken down ---so----- that damaging ice storm cost us a big batch of money!!!!  But--we were luckier than some.



Our house the morning of 2/26;  I marked the tree shown in the previous photo with a star --so that you'll see why we had to get that branch taken down (and several others)! 
Well---that was our Snow on 2/26....  It was pretty until the melting started... Then --all of the sticks and junk from the storm appeared again!!!!  YUK.

BUT--the good news is that as of 3/22----we finally have our yard back to 'almost' normal!!!!!  AND Spring has come and we have flowers blooming... SO--all is GOOD here....

Thanks for making it through another winter post.... At least,  this one was prettier than the 2/21 Ice Storm photos.  Let's just hope we don't have anymore frigid weather this year... We 'usually' have a frost in early April ---so I'm holding my breath --hoping that we get spared this year..

Hugs,

Thursday, March 19, 2015

EARLY EARLY Spring Flowers in our Yard 2015

Pretty Crocus Blooms in our yard;  (Taken on 3/15/15)
After such a harsh and devastating winter here,  we are pleased to share some of the FIRST Spring Flowers to bloom in our Yard.  We were not sure what we would see this year due to the Yard Damage.  BUT---many plants are hardy and can make it through a wicked winter...

Hope you enjoy seeing these flowers in our yard.  Hopefully,  this is the first of MANY posts showing our flowers in 2015...  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.


My favorite Crocus Bloom in my yard;  (Taken on 3/16/15)



George took this little beauty,  another little Crocus in our yard;  (taken on 3/15/15)



George getting up close and personal with our first Daffodil of the season; (Taken on 3/16/15)



Here is a picture of our first daffodil of Spring,  2015;  I took this picture --so I am glad that George did NOT get a picture of me squatting --while trying to get a close picture... ha...  (Taken on 3/16/15)



This gorgeous yellow Pansy made it through the winter... I hope many more of ours will be blooming soon.  I love little Pansies.  (We plant them in the Fall --to give us a little color during winter.) (Taken on 3/16/15)

 
This was our first Hyacinth of the season.  I love the two pink colors of this little flower. (Taken on 3/17/15)
Well---that is our FIRST pictures of this year's spring... We have many many more flowers growing and budding --so seeing these first ones just makes me excited  knowing that there are many more to come..

Hope you are doing okay.  We have been BUSY in the yard this past week --and have made a HUGE dent in the clean-up work --after the storms...

Have a fantastic weekend.
Hugs,