Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Happy First Day of Spring!



The first day of spring has finally arrived.  It's a bit chillier than I would have liked 
(our area will be in the 40s and the forecast for tonight is 22), but it's finally here! Oh how I've dreamed of this day. This day signals the start of blooms, sunshine, leaves, green and working in my garden! Every day I take my "walkabout" to see what's happening in the garden. Come along with me and let's take a look......

This little guy sits in a pot of flowers on my front porch and welcomes visitors.


Behind the pot of flowers is this table with some spring decorations.

My Camellia is finally opening!

More flowers will be open soon.

The Creeping Phlox is starting to bloom.

Last fall I did not plant any Crocus or Hyacinth bulbs. I've seen so many beautiful pictures in other blogs that I just had to have some. So what to do.....easy, go to the garden center and buy pots of blooming Crocus and Hyacinth and plant them!



 

All of my Peonies are getting taller. This one is "Sorbet".

I enjoy hearing my Cardinal windchime while I'm working in the garden.

This is one of the Daffys I planted in January. I didn't know how they would do since I planted them so late, but they all have buds on them and this was the first to bloom!

 The buds on the Cheddar Pinks  are about to burst open.

I have to include my violas for the first day of spring.

My hubby just planted this evergreen Witch Hazel, Distylium "Emerald Heights", last Saturday. It's doing great! (He planted nine shrubs I had waiting in the garage.)

This Pearlbush, "Snow Day Surprise", is leafing out nicely.

 Another shrub, Weigela, "Sonic Bloom Red", planted on Saturday. These three shrubs are in Morrow Park.

The ground cover, Veronica, "peduncularis, Georgia Blue", is blooming. I have clumps of this along a path in one of my beds. 

The Trumpet Vine on this arch in the front garden is really leafing out and looking great. Last year at this time is was only about two feet tall and had a fungus. I sprayed it repeatedly with neem oil and now look at it!

The Viburnums by the driveway are blooming.

This Flowering Quince always puts on a show in spring!

The buds on the Clove Currant are starting to open. These flowers have the intense fragrance of cloves that fills the air in the back garden. It's intoxicating!!

The Oriental Lilies have broken through the soil and will be going up, up, up towards the sun!

And what would spring be without Forsythia. It's coming along nicely!

 I've put out the spring decorations in my home. I have to say the spring decorations are my favorites because they're just so cheery! This mantle is just inside the front door.

I also wanted to give everyone an update on my Little Blue Visitors. My Bluebird couple are still hanging around and checking out the house I put out for them. They haven't taken any nesting material inside, (as far as I can tell), but they sure go in and out a lot. Here's the oddest thing of all.....yesterday when I was doing my exercises in our gym (which is at the front of the house and the kitchen and office are at the back of the house), the Bluebirds both came and landed on the window and looked in at me. When I was done exercising and went back into the office, there they were at the office window. Very odd behavior by my little Bluebirds! 

Happy first day of spring everyone and....

Happy Gardening!

Words and Photos Property of Christy's Cottage Wildlife Garden

35 comments:

  1. What gorgeous blooms you have in your garden. Your Spring decor is SO cute! You are quite the gardener and the decorator. Happy Spring!

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    1. Hi Steph...thank you sooo much. Your comments mean a lot to me. I'm glad you enjoyed my blooms and decorations! Now that spring has arrived my garden will soon be bursting with color! Thanks for visiting!

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  2. That camelia looks ready to burst with color. Your garden is emerging with so much life...beautiful.

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    1. Hello and thank you for stopping by! I appreciate your comments. Please visit again because now that spring is here, the garden will soon be filled with flowers and blooms!! Thanks, so much!

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  3. This is so lovely and welcoming!

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm finally getting some blooms to show everyone. I hope you stop by again. I will have lots to see!

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  4. Happy spring to you! It's looking most cheery in your garden. I can't wait to see mine soon though the weather looks dreary. Glad to hear Emerald is doing well.

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    1. Thanks Tina! The weather has been very dreary today. In fact, about 1/2 hr ago it was snowing a little bit. Tonight's forecast is 22 degrees :-( Hope everything in your garden is doing good! Talk with you soon!

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  5. You have a lot going on there, already.
    I'd love to have a camellia. But, I don't think one would do well here. They are tempting.

    Happy First Day of Spring.

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    1. Hi Linda. Yes, I've been lucky and things are already looking good. In a few weeks the garden should really be coming along...(plus the fact that I went to my favorite nursery today and bought 15 more plants :-) I would love to have more Camillias, but I don't have any more shade.

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  6. Maybe those bluebirds think they want your house for their house!
    Spring is certainly at your place.

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    1. Hi! You could be right. Maybe they're thinking of having a big family and need a lot of space!! Spring was here yesterday but I woke to 17 degrees today, so I'm not sure if anything will be hurt out there. I'm afraid to look! Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. I'm so glad spring is making its way to Tennessee! I hope your garden won't be affected by the upcoming cold spell. We're going to cool off a bit here in Katy and I am thankful. It was 90 degrees on Monday. In March! That's just wrong.

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    1. Hi Cindy....You're right, 90 degrees in March, that's just crazy!! I wish I could give you some of the cold I woke up to....17 degrees! I'm afraid to go out and see what everything looks like. I hope my "babies" came through it ok. Thanks for visiting!

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  8. Great post. It reminds me of things to come here. Snow forecast again for the next few days delaying spring even further.
    Malc

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    1. Hi Malc....I hope my spring wasn't cut too short! I woke to 17 degrees today. I sure hope everything is ok. I'm glad we got a lot of rain on Sunday because being well watered always helps the plants when a freeze comes. A regular spring will reach both of us soon...hopefully! Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. How funny that your bluebirds are checking on you! I guess they just wanted to introduce themselves to their neighbor! :) I love when the bulbs start blooming in spring. And your camellia is just gorgeous. Your little guy in the pot is adorable!

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    1. Hello! Yes, my little Bluebirds are still here. They have been checking out a couple of houses in the yard, so I'm not sure which one they will pick. Yesterday I bought more mealworms for them, but many of the other birds ate them too and I don't know if my Bluebirds got any. I'm hoping my Camellia (and everything else) is ok because I woke to 17 degrees this morning. I really like the little guy in the pot. He's so cute holding his flower!! Thanks for stopping by!!

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  10. Happy Spring Christy. I hear birds chirping outside and the sun is shining, but it is 19° yet here and 90% chance of snow tonight. Still is very winter like. Your garden/property/house are so Spring like with decorations and blooms. The bluebirds must be very grateful that you have a nice home for them, and want to tell you so.

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    1. Hi Donna.....It's not very spring like here today. I woke to 17 degrees and lots of frost. I hope all my flowers are ok. As I said, I just love spring decorations, both inside and outside. I bought some mealworms for my Bluebirds yesterday, but so many other birds ate them, I don't know if my Bluebirds got any. Today I'll put out more worms and hope they get some. I have to tell you, it's so cute to watch them...when the male is sitting on the pergola, I tap on the window and he looks towards the window and cocks his head back and forth looking at me with those big dark eyes. I've become so attached to the little cuties!! Thanks for dropping by!

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  11. Maybe the little bluebirds are wanting to sign a lease?:)

    It looks like spring has definitely come to your garden, Christy; so lovely! We're on hold here as another winter storm is forecast for this weekend.

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    1. Hi Rose...I wish the Bluebirds would sign a lease because then I know they would stay around! However, as I type the little male is outside the window on the pergola. Spring is on hold here too. Yesterday I woke to 17 degrees and we are expecting snow flurries today.....this is so different from last year! Well, we know spring weather will get here eventually!

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  12. I think your bluebirds have decided to move in and are checking out the neighbor - you! I enjoyed your walkabout. You early spring garden is filled with so much promise. Those first buds and flowers are just what we gardeners need to lift our spirits after a cold, dreary winter!

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    1. Hi Deb....I'm so glad you stopped by. My little Bluebirds are still hanging around. In fact, I went and bought some mealworms for them. However, it seems there are lots of birds that like mealworms, so I hope the Bluebirds are getting some. You're so right, seeing those early blooms and buds really lifts my spirits. Only problem is that Mother Nature hasn't decided to let winter move on yet, we're having some really cold weather. Some of my new growth on the shrubs died, but they will be ok. Thanks for visiting.

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  13. Wonderful spring...my tour is looking at all the snow...violas are my favorite....and how cute the bluebirds are watching you!

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    1. Hi Donna....Yes, my little Bluebirds are still hanging around. I hope they decide to nest in one of the houses around the property. I buy the Violas in fall and they last well into spring. I can always count on them to add lots of color in winter. Our spring turned back into winter. We've had really cold days and nights and expect snow flurries at the beginning of the week. However, my "nursery" in the garage is growing and growing. Soon I hope to be able to plant everything! Thanks for stopping by!

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  14. Hi, Christy! This is my first visit to your blog. I'm a new follower! I LOVE gardening, too! Your pictures of all the spring flora is encouraging, as I'm from the Midwest and we are still getting snow and freezing temps. I'm reminded that spring will be here soon for us, as well, but I just have to be patient. Until then, I have some spring bulbs blooming in my little cottage. Stop on over, if you get a chance.
    Ann @ Cairn Cottage (http://cairncottage.blogspot.com/)

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    1. Hi Ann! I'm so glad you found my blog. Mother Nature has decided that winter isn't ready to go away just yet. We've had really cold, gloomy days since I took these pictures and the forecast for the next couple of days is rain and/or snow flurries. Like you said, we just have to be patient. In the meantime, I just keep buying plants and putting them in the garage until it warms up! I can't help myself! Thanks for stopping by and I'll "see" you next post.

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  15. Maybe the bluebirds find us as interesting as we find them. I had bluebirds in my garden today but they were focused on the garden and not on me. I must be too boring. :o) I have a few signs of spring but not many sice we're a bit colder than you are. Check out my Blog Love column on my current post.

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    1. Hi there! I had already checked out your post before I saw this comment. I was so happy to see your Blog Love column that I called my hubby in to look at it. Thanks so much for adding me to your Love column...it means a great deal to me! My Bluebirds are still hanging around. They have been checking out several of the houses around the property. The male is the most aggressive Bluebird I've ever seen...he's been scaring off the Sparrows and winning! Spring didn't stay around for long. We've had some cold weather and this morning I woke to a blanket of snow covering everything with more to come today and tomorrow. This weather is just weird!! I long for some steady, warm spring weather!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!

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  16. Oh my... I can barely imagine having so much bloom already... it still feels like mid-winter here. Temps today in mid-20's with a fierce and damp north wind.... brrrr... and snow in four foot drifts throughout the gardens... hoping for a break soon but likely cold for a couple more weeks unfortunately! Thanks for all the comments you leave at my site... truly appreciated! Larry

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    1. Hi Larry....Well, spring didn't stay around for long. I woke to a blanket of snow today with more expected today and tomorrow. I guess Mother Nature isn't ready to say good-bye to winter just yet. But it's just cruel when we have some nice days, plants start coming up and shrubs start leafing out, then BANG....a big blast of cold air comes along. I can only hope that all my "babies" are okay out there and will bounce back once spring really arrives! Thanks for dropping by!

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  18. Hi Christy, Looks so beautiful at your home! Love, love, love the camellias! Christy, I don't see a GFC widget on your blog, but I am following/subscribing in google reader. Happy spring!
    Blessings, Beth

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  19. The early blooms looks very lovely. The viburnums are perfectly blooming and you have capture it well.

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