Spring Blush

The day started out as one of the coldest this winter but by mid-day it was gorgeous outside.  This azalea time of year is one of my favorites.

Azaleas under moss-laden oaks are almost a cliche but I love them.  When bursting in colorful bloom they are stunning.  When not in bloom they provide layers of evergreen foliage for spring irises, caladiums and bromeliads to play against.

Pink is my favorite color and there are all shades of it surrounding me in the front garden from the light pink of 'George L. Taber' to the fuchsia shades of 'Formosa.'

These flowering shrubs are reliable bloomers at a time of year when things often look bleak.  This year's mild winter weather however has allowed many of the companion plants to remain green giving the overall garden a more complete look.

It may be a one-type-of-flower show right now, but there is such an abundance of azalea flowers that the pollinators are enjoying quite a feast.

This large carpenter bee is one of many that have been buzzing around the bushes. I just love watching them start flying and flitting as soon as the sun begins to warm the day.

The azaleas may have a short run of blooms, typically lasting about a month, but this show has just begun.  There are plenty of additional buds yet to pop.

Bluebird of Happiness

Bluebirds are associated with happiness and contentment in life.  I'm certainly happy to have this charming couple visiting my garden this spring.  I hope they make their home here. 

They have been visiting every day, making quite a show of catching bugs.  As I go about pulling weeds and other garden duties this cheerful pair seem to enjoy my company as much I enjoy theirs.

There is much to be happy about in the garden these early days of spring.  Along the sunny side of the back fence the new 'Julia Child' rose is blooming  in floribunda bunches.  I have been looking for this rose ever since I saw it at Bok Tower gardens.  It gets good reviews from Bok Tower and from other central Florida gardeners.


My happiness with the floribunda  rose, 'Scentamental' is probably going to be short-lived.  I know he's wrong for me, but I don't care.  I love him.

Seedlings in the sunny patch that is now a rose garden have been springing up and starting to bloom.  Blanket flowers, guara, hollyhocks, and alyssum have all re-seeded from last year's plants.  Yay!  Belinda's Dream provides lots of happiness in this spot.

Tall red pentas and more blanket flowers are coming back in front of the bamboo on the sunny west side.  A few sunflowers were added.  Butterflies and bees have gradually been coming around to visit them. 

There is more guara happiness along the path leading to the pot of bright orange geraniums.  Those geraniums were a Mother's Day gift from my daughter-in-love.  I'm very happy to see them blooming and rejuvenated with the spring weather.

What could be happier than little green sweat bees buzzing around sunflowers? 

And, finally!  Blooms on the bottle brush tree this year! 

"...happy is that people, whose God is the LORD."

Psalm 145:15

I Think It's Spring!

New blooms are popping in the veggie bed bringing in the pollinators.  Bees are buzzing and the first butterflies of the season have been flitting through the flowers.

Herbs for kitchen use as well as to attract butterflies have been growing from seeds planted during December.   Rue, dill and flat leaf parsley are all yummy food for Black Swallowtail caterpillars. 

Blue basil has been growing and blooming.  Purple flowers and stems make this herb as beautiful as it is flavorful.

More flowers to attract bees have been planted along the perimeter of the veggie bed.

These eggplants are still going from the fall garden.  Wonder how long they will keep growing and producing?  The winter only slowed production a little bit.

Four tomato plants were set into their final containers this past week. 

 They will gradually acclimate to the warm weather and full sun.   

The container veggie bed may not be large enough to sustain all our vegetable needs, but it is a lot of fun to grow and harvest what we can comfortably accommodate. 

The weather is sunny and warm, the flowers, herbs and vegetables are growing and blooming.  I think it's SPRING!