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...

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Around the Yard from 4/4-4/12/2015

George and I 'walk the yard' most every single day this time of year seeing what is NEW.   I went through all of the pictures I took between April 4th  and 12th, and chose  some to share with you today... Hope you enjoy seeing Spring begin and just grow and grow in our area.... This is truly a wonderful time of the year.

This was the time when we had both Daffodils still blooming and Tulips beginning to bloom.  The picture above (taken on 4/8/15)  is our big Rose Bed (without Roses this time of year).  You can see both Daffodils and Tulips in that bed...


George taking a picture of some of our Tulips --taken on 4/4/15




Bleeding Hearts --taken on 4/9/15



A Friend  (thanks, Marcia) gave me this Bleeding Hearts bush two years ago.  It has done GREAT this year ---and I love those little 'hearts'.  (taken on 4/9/15)



This is another gift from friend, Marcia... I LOVE Hostas and have many plants around our yard.  This is definitely one of the prettiest ones!!!!!  (taken on 4/9/15)



Our home on 4/9/15;  You can tell that there were still no leaves on the big shade trees... Things were turning green --and the Daffodils and Tulips were beautiful,  even though the trees made it look 'wintery' still!!!!



Pink Dogwood blooms (taken on 4/10/15);   Dogwoods in our area, due to our icy winter,  did not do as well this year as in most years,  including our dogwoods..   The leaves popped out before there were many blooms.  Because of that, I don't have a picture of our entire dogwood tree.   But---the blooms we did get are pretty,  don't you think?



Another picture looking up at some of our Pink Dogood blooms,  taken on 4/11/15;   When the sun hits the blooms,  the pink almost turns to red... Amazing!



Our Groundcover,  Periwinkle (Vinca Minor);  This is a wonderful ground cover --and the little blue flowers in Spring add so much to our yard!  (taken on 4/11/15)



The bad winter didn't do any damage at all to our REDBUD trees.  I was standing under the tree looking up.  The BEES love that tree. 



One of our REDBUD trees in our yard (taken on 4/11/15);   That is the empty lot in the distance... It is always hard trying to get a good picture of that entire tree --but you get the idea of how large it is and how pretty the blooms were.




The tiny flowerbed beside the house and the sidewalk leading to the backyard;  I have Hostas and Autumn Joy Sedums in this bed. (photo taken on 4/12/15)



In the big Rock Bed (near the lower side of the house and driveway),  the CANDY TUFT and some PINK PHLOX are blooming.   (taken on 4/12/15)



Our Home (on 4/11/15)
I'll close with another picture of our home and front yard.  You won't believe the difference from that day until today.  We now have LEAVES on our big trees, and it looks totally different.   Hip Hip Hooray!!!!!!

Today is my BABY BOY's 44th Birthday... Happy Birthday, Jeff.

Hope you enjoyed seeing EARLY Spring in our yard...

Have a wonderful day and week.
Hugs,

53 comments:

Ms. A said...

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

I love that hosta Marcia gave you!

Kay said...

Happy Birthday to Jeff! Your flowers are absolutely gorgeous! I really do miss spring in the Midwest. I'm glad my daughter sends me photos.

Rohrerbot said...

Gorgeous!!! Best time of year. And I like your tradition of walking through the garden.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Happy birthday Jeff. A beautiful tour of your garden flowers. Great shots.

Fun60 said...

What a wonderful way to start the day. All that beautiful colour to brighten up the day.

Out on the prairie said...

I like the steps of tulips. Lovely blooms and that vinca a hit.

diane b said...

Your garden is so green and pretty with all the blooms.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Your home is nestled in beauty!

Enjoy your happy gardens.

FlowerLady

eileeninmd said...

Betsy, thank you for the tour of your lovely gardens. So many pretty flowers and colors. Gorgeous photos. Have a happy day!

The Furry Gnome said...

You have a beautiful home Betsy! We particularly love the Dogwood and the Redbud, and wish they would grow and flower this far north. Flowering dogwood don't grow here at all. We do have some Redbud which survive, but they never flower. They are both one of our best memories from our trip through the Smokies.

linda m said...

Happy Birthday, Jeff!!! Love all the flowers and colorful trees you have in your yard. It is just starting to get colorful here also. Hostas are up and my bleeding hearts are in full bloom.

Joy said...

Thank you for taking us along with your walk in your backyard. Surely, it is beautiful there:)
Have to wait for my tulips:)

Judy said...

I did enjoy Spring in your yard. Our daffodils and tulips are over now. Lily of the valley is beginning to open. It has been cold the last couple of days (danger of frost last night) but it is supposed to be nice enough to work outside today. There is work to do.

Betsy said...

Happy Birthday to Jeff! Your yard looks beautiful and I can only imagine what it looks like now, a month later, with the leaves on the trees. We finally got some rain yesterday. The first in over 6 weeks. Gosh, we needed it desperately. We need inches more to avoid, or at least help with the forest fires of summer.
I really enjoy hostas too. Thank you for sharing with us.
Blessings,
Betsy

George said...

As beautiful as the tulips and daffodils are, I'm glad the roses are starting to bloom. You photos are gorgeous.

Happy Birthday, Jeff.

happyone said...

Beautiful photos of your beautiful yard.
I really like the one of the pink dogwood that looks red against the blue sky.

Jeevan said...

Beautiful capture on flowers leaves and trees viewed via your front yard! Love your rose bed where daffodils and tulips abloom :) Good to see spring lovely thrive at your place and great sign and relief after severe snow storms.

Btw. Happy Birthday to your dear son, Jeff

Sylvia K said...

Thanks for the lovely stroll, Betsy!! You do have such a beautiful yard and colorful flowers!! Wishing your son, Jeff, a very Happy Birthday!! Hope all of you have a great weekend!!

Arkansas Patti said...

Love your Hostas. I am almost more of a foliage person than a flower person. Wish I had more shady areas.
You place always look marvelous.

Arkansas Patti said...

Oops, Happy Birthday Jeff.

Jim and Sandie said...

Plants and I have never had a good relationship but we planted three bleeding hearts and I loved those flowers. Beautiful yard.

troutbirder said...

Very cheery spring post. We love to take "walk the yard" outing too in our little 2 acres of house and woodland gardens . What fun in the spring...:)

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

Your yard shows such exquisite planning and loving care. It's just beautiful!

And hope your baby boy Jeff has a wonderful birthday!

Janice K said...

Your yard is so beautiful!!! This year my daffodils and tulips did not bloom at all at the same time. Your picture looks so perfect--just like the seed/flower catalogs lead you to believe they will.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Your little piece of paradise is beautiful,as always.

David said...

Betsy, Beautiful blooms and a lot of effort, that's for sure! Looks like spring on the plateau is about a week behind us here in the valley. We were up in the Detroit area this past week and it was like we were experiencing spring all over again! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Ginny Hartzler said...

The sun on the Periwinkles is beautiful! And the deep rich red of the pink dogwood, I have never seen such a color on these trees before! So those are my two favs. OH, also your first picture, the stones and the flowers. You can see how thoughtfully they were all placed and laid out.

Ann Thompson said...

You have got the most beautiful yard. Those few pictures with the blossoms against the blue sky are gorgeous

Marcia said...

Nice to see that you got blooms on the bleeding heart and that the hosta is doing well. My bleeding heart is just about spent. Irises are opening up now.

Nellie said...

Happy birthday to Jeff!

How wonderful that you have bees! We've seen very few here for several years.

I love that bleeding heart! I think I will now be on a mission to add one of those here.

There is something new to see almost daily in the spring.

xo Nellie

Chatty Crone said...

Okay the flowers are all beautiful - but my favorite photo is the first one - the tulips on different steps - I think that is fabulous looking!

Shug said...

Such beauty all around your place....and, I especially like the American flag in your yard! I'm guessing your neighbors certainly enjoy driving past your lovely home...Lots of hard work and it pays off..

Hugs,

Small Kucing said...

everything looks great Betsy. Love the bleeding heart . Gotta find some and plant it coz it can grow in this climate

DeniseinVA said...

Oh my, this is a gorgeous display of flowers from your garden Betsy. A lovely variety and all so colorful!

Anonymous said...

How gorgeous to see your garden come to life with all those lovely flowers!

Anonymous said...

Flowers looks very beautiful. It gives richness around your place. Colorful flowers!

Peaches McGinty said...

Happy Birthday to your baby boy, Jeff!
Hi Betsy! your garden has certainly bounced back after your bitter winter - the colour and lushness are a delight (we are trying to grow plants at the moment for the bees, we need them!) the redbud tree is particularly lovely and your garden view with your house is beautiful, so welcoming! have a wonderful weekend! also, my current post is a bit sweary, I don't want to offend you! you can visit the next one if you wish!! x x x hugs x x x

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I love pink dogwoods! We don't have any, although we do have some regular dogwoods that grow naturally in our woods.

I need to plant some bleeding hearts. They are so pretty.

LV said...

Your yard and home are just one of the most gorgeous sights ever. You have spent a lot of time getting it to this point and it shows. I could not believe all those pots lining the drive. You two just about blow my mind with so much beauty.

Rose said...

I totally love that close up of the bleeding heart!

Happy Birthday to your son!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Happy birthday, Jeff! Betsy, love your flowered terrace. Bleeding hearts are among my favorites too. They are so graceful. Very pretty red dogwood.

Marie said...

your dogwoods are so gorgeous! your yard is paradise. :) it's screams happy! :)
hugs to you,
Marie

Jarka Panci said...

Betsy, it is so beautiful !!!
Have a nice weekend.
Jarka

Deb J. in Utah said...

What a lovely home and yard you have. Great pictures. Have a happy weekend!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Lots of loving care has gone into planting flowers in your yard. It looks beautiful! I see the lineup of planters along the driveway. Are they planted with knockout roses? I had to give up on planting mine in pots, they just didn't do well.
It's been such a busy week or so here, I've taken on a job I didn't need...bottle feeding 2 baby kittens trying to keep them alive. I'm praying the Humane Society calls me to say they have a foster family available Real Soon!! I couldn't just let the poor little things die, tho. Anyway, my blogging has slowed down but I've not forgotten my blog friends! Hope you and George have a nice weekend. It's rainy here. Hugs, Cheryl

Unknown said...

Hi Betsy,

You certainly have a beautiful garden, and all these gorgeous colours. I love this time of the year, but unfortunately the weather over here is not so good. I miss the SUN!! The garden is starting to look good, slowly but surely.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Eva

Connie Arnold said...

Sure enjoyed the spring tour, Betsy. Your photos are wonderful! Hope Jeff had a good birthday.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I have heard of bleeding hearts but don't think I have saw them before....gorgeous! Pink dogwoods are so pretty. My mom loved hostas like that, yours are pretty too. I love the Springtime!

Small City Scenes said...

Thanks for the April Garden tour.
Everything looks beautiful and I do imagine the difference with the trees in full leaf.
Enjoy the beauty!
MB

Annesphamily said...

I always enjoy your garden photos. My uncle and aunt had the most magnificent rose garden when I was a kid. I wish I had learned more about it. We have an old climbing rose bush and it is starting to get some green buds. we have had more rain than Seattle lately. LOL! This year a bridal bush started to grow in between the rose bush. Hee Hee! The same thing happened on the side of our house by our back bedroom window. Suddenly the lilac bush has a new BFF a bridal bush! Amazing! We are going to be finally putting somewhat of a yard with yard with grass and gravel for parking! Then we can work on some veggies in a small garden and add flowers as we go. I made a purchase at my local K-Mart last week and the cashier tossed in three packets of Forget Me Nots. A few years ago when I organized the memory quilt project for Shannon's parents, the little girl who passed away from a rare brain cancer, they sent each one of us who participated a packet of forget Me Nots and asked us to plant them in memory of Shannon. I am going to add them to a small area I have out front where I can set my little garden statue of a boy and girl. Or perhaps my tall "Garden Angel". I will call it Shannon's Garden. I have lots of ideas. You and George are such a good inspiration to me. I love knowing you two and hope your week is blessed. Hugs, Anne

Connie said...

It was fun seeing all your pretty spring blooms, Betsy. This is always my favorite time of year!

Twilight Man said...

I always remember how bushy and shady your big trees would look like by mid Summer. You guys have the best fingers for gardening besides all the lovely feeds for the happy birds. God Will Bless You Both!

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

I can never get over how much you know about plant. Coming to visit your posts is often like going to a botanical gardeb and learning new names for flowers. Sadly I have never had an ability to maintain such elaborate gardens nor recollect a vast number of plants by name. I have such a tiny awareness in that area and don't know why.
I love all your flower posts!! In fact I love every post!