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, June 12, 2023

2023 IRISES in our Yard

 Hello Blog Friends,  With all of the 'life issues' going on in my life in April and May (actually  January-May),   I realized that I hadn't shown you some of our pretty Irises in bloom this Spring... 

Hope you are doing well and staying healthy these days.   I had two Iron Infusions this past month to help my Anemia... (I'll let you know if they work!!!!).... 

Enjoy the pictures (all taken in late April/early May)... 

Bountiful Harvest

Electric Shock

Second Fiddle

Garden Grace

Goodnight Kiss

Feedback

Paprika Fono

Pinkness

Love the Sun

Orange Harvest 

Picasa Moon

Color Watch

Well---do you have a favorite?????  Every year,  I choose something different... Last year,  it was Bountiful Harvest and Orange Harvest... I still love those but this year,  I choose Love the Sun and Picasa Moon.  That yellow color of Picasa Moon just shines up our yard!    BUT--I also love Second Fiddle (unique) and Goodnight Kiss (which we have had for several years).  Besides these 12---we had a total of 36 different varieties this year!!!!  The deer don't like the Irises --so we get a good crop each year.

Have a great week, my Friends and God's Blessings on YOU and YOURS.

BETSY and GEORGE



Thursday, June 1, 2023

More Beauties from Biltmore (5/17/23)

Hello Blog Friends,   Hope you are not tired of seeing our Biltmore pictures!!!!!  If you are,  then I'm sorry since I am showing you more today... What is interesting for me is looking up the names for some of these gorgeous flowers....   Sit back and enjoy!!!!!! See how many names you knew!!!!


Wax Begonias of all colors 



The one on the left is called a Rex Begonia (I had no idea this was in the Begonia family), and the on the right is called a Blushing Bromeliad.



Biltmore Conservatory is known for its many Orchids.  Here are only three:  Left--Moon Orchid;  Middle--Renanthera Orchid;  Right--Crimson Cattleya



White-spotted Calla Lily



Lantana



Bigleaf Hydrangea



Peace Lily  (Don't you love this name?)



China Rose Hibiscus

How many did you know????  I'll admit that I have no idea the names of ANY of the Orchids... To me,  an Orchid is an Orchid.... ha ha

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I'll close with one of my favorite photos taken of Bert (about a month before he died).  This was his last trip with his two brothers/wives ---taken on March 26, 2023 (he died on April 21)... They enjoyed a weekend together in Folly Beach, South Carolina.  Son Jeff took this picture of Bert---early in the morning while waiting for the sunrise... I see this picture and it brings tears to my eyes.  I wonder what he was thinking that morning??????  Bert knew he was going to die,  and maybe he was asking God to take him to that beautiful place called Heaven... He was READY --even though the rest of us didn't want to lose him so quickly...   I AM glad that he didn't suffer and that he is in a better place...  BUT??????? 

Oh---how I miss him!