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!
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| February with the daffodils, flowering quince and the oxalis greening up |
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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.
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| First came the daffodils |
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| Then the beautiful and fragrant Mexican Plum |
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| And a favorite of the bees, Eve's Necklace |
And then BOOM! Here they come!
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| Clematis | |
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| White Clover |
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| Evening Primrose |
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| Horseherb, Ajuga and Rosemary |
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| Ajuga |
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| Bearded Iris |
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| Yellow Flag Iris |
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| Kerria 'Japanese Rose" |
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| Mexican Honeysuckle |
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| Oxalis |
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| Salvia Greggii |
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| Lyre-leaf sage |
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| Scabiosa |
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| Texas Betony |
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| Vinca |
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| Passionflower caerulea 'Blue Crown' |
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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?
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| Cranefly | | | | |
But these guys helped with population control.
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| Green Anole....the garden dragon |
The rest of the visitors weren't obnoxious at all. Here are just a few.
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| Clouded skipper heading for the salvia |
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| Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth.....what amazing colors and patterns |
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| Cedar Waxwing.....sunny side up |
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| Love the color around the eye of this dove |
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| Mason Bee...such a beneficial pollinator! |
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| 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.
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| Red Admiral |
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| Monarch |
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| Buckeye |
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| Eastern Giant Swallowtail | | |
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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!
