Monday, April 13, 2020

"Slow down, you move too fast.....You got to make the morning last"

Whatever this pandemic (that shall not be named) is doing to our world, it is certainly causing a lot of us to rethink the way we have been living our lives, reevaluate what is precious to us, what we need to toss into the trash (or recycle) and be done with, and reconsider how we spend our so very priceless and fragile time...especially when some of us seem to have an abundance of it on our hands (that have been washed oh so many times). Makes me think of another song..... "♫ I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment's gone ♫"

So I will take you where it has been leading me....into my garden! The place that brings me comfort, motivates me to keep moving and working, centers me and helps me get my balance when the world seems to be askew. It causes me to slow down, observe and really see, hear, smell, and feel things that are so easy to take for granted. I can't fix what is wrong in the world, but I can help arrange beauty in a tiny little suburban lot and share that with you.

We've finally gotten to the point that our winter garden is more colorful and interesting. A few years ago when our granddaughter was here for a visit, she ran out to the backyard to play in her magical world. She did not understand the word, dormant and started crying and lamenting that it was dead! She loves the wildness that happens in the warmer months! 

February with the daffodils, flowering quince and the oxalis greening up


Since our yard is so small, we really have no room for cactus, which we both love, so Johnny bought me a metal one and three metal agaves. 







We have learned the importance of not cutting everything back in the winter. By waiting till spring, we keep our granddaughter happy as well as all the little critters that live here.

February, March and April have been full of cloudy days and rain. I love what the rain does but I sure did miss the sunshine. And, just last week we had a day in the high 90's and today woke up to 39 degrees with the wind chill in the 20's. Makes for a perfect day to write a blog and enjoy the garden through pictures and my window!


So things are starting to liven up, put on new growth, and pop up in the most unexpected ways. It is the magic of the Spring! 










As I wait for the risk of a freeze to pass us by so I can plant some of the cool annuals that I love, I am enjoying what is putting on a display right now.


First came the daffodils

Then the beautiful and fragrant Mexican Plum
And a favorite of the bees, Eve's Necklace
And then BOOM! Here they come!

Clematis 

White Clover

Evening Primrose
Horseherb, Ajuga and Rosemary

Ajuga
Bearded Iris





Yellow Flag Iris

Kerria 'Japanese Rose"

Mexican Honeysuckle

Oxalis

Salvia Greggii

Lyre-leaf sage

Scabiosa

Texas Betony

Vinca

Passionflower caerulea 'Blue Crown'

We had a bajillion of these guys......I think they just loved all the rain. They are the drunken sailors of the insect world and love to catapult into the house before the door  closes so they can fly in your face. Did they come visit you too?
Cranefly    
 But these guys helped with population control.
Green Anole....the garden dragon


The rest of the visitors weren't obnoxious at all. Here are just a few.

Clouded skipper heading for the salvia

Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth.....what amazing colors and patterns

Cedar Waxwing.....sunny side up

Love the color around the eye of this dove

Mason Bee...such a beneficial pollinator!

Pearl Crescent.....not as stuckup as it looks
We have a lot of Red-tipped Photinias around the edges of our yard and our neighbor's yard that burst into bloom a couple of weeks ago. They did not all bloom at the same time so it has been fun having such a wonderful fragrance and so many winged guests during this time. Here's a few of them.

Red Admiral

Monarch

Buckeye

Eastern Giant Swallowtail  
With all the scary stuff that is going on today, sometime we think that all bacteria and fungi is bad......even if a mushroom is not edible, it is still very important.


Fungi feed on dead organic matter which includes leaf litter, soil, dung, wood and dead animals. They recycle 85 percent of the carbon from dead organic matter and release the locked-up nutrients so they can be used by other organisms. This makes the fungi vital for the ongoing health of ecosystems – defined as a biological environment consisting of all the living organisms in a particular area, along with the nonliving factors with which they interact.
 https://sciencing.com/list-fungi-benefits-8606974.html

We don't need to live in fear, but we should honor each other and this earth. And when we can, hug all our loved ones! But for now, hug a tree!