More Spring Blooms

A few highlights from the past few weeks before they disappear...either from the brisk wind and cold the next few nights or just done. I've never been a fan of these things (Bearded Iris) but some love them. They almost look a deformed plant. I should get more Dianthus in front this fall.

This spot has become more of a let's put it there for awhile location and small seed starter area that's been working great. Case in point; I've never been able to get 4 o'clocks going around here, but then I've started most seeds in flats. Anyway, I must have a dozen and a half good looking 4 o'clocks this year.

Seen every year, but more of a mid May bloomer, Dianthus near the porch steps. I usually have to replant 2 or three each fall, but several are going on three years this fall.

Down by the storage shed, it's those low growing bunch type whatch combs.

Foam flowers taken from the woods.

Off to the creek area. I had one Hosta that had to be removed and the reason for the gaping empty spot. It had the HVX virus, which I had no knowledge of until last week.

My proud and joys for the spring. Foxglove...

Finally after three years and who knows how many seeds...some Columbine

Half of my rooted Coleus and Angelonia planted in soil in an improved version  of the original hoop greenhouse in the woods. Covered with straw for the next few cold nights. Stays nice and toasty in there with the warm soil.

I'll Take Two Mays

April did not come this year the way I look at it. Instead there are two months of May on the calendar around here. Only two days under 70 degrees this month. Eight days over 80. Perfect, it's my favorite month up here. Tree foliage looks like it's ahead of last year by two weeks. Starting to get shade. Even the frigging lawn is looking better after mowing for the first time yesterday. I missed a small but heavy isolated thunderstorm that hovered an area 10 miles north of me last evening. It dumped about 4-5 inches. No other rain in the state.

And the song birds are out. I remember them much later last year, but several were singing this morning amongst the nasty smell of chicken manure fertilizer. Must be a heavy dose, or the wind is headed in the right direction because I don't recall it being that strong last year.

Maybe you've heard about the high pollen levels (weather channel based in Atlanta) in the Atlanta area. Doesn't bother me but my truck is a little greener. Stuff falling everywhere. Squirrels gone or I don't see them. I think I finally beat them on the bird feeder.

Nor sure what kind of bush this is, but it's starting to flower. Must be azalea? No it's a Rhododendron dummy!  Where did we buy that one? There are actually two adjacent to one rock garden. The others against the rock wall don't have blooms, or maybe they're not the same. It's about that time of the year for wild pink and orange ones to bloom. Dogwoods are flowering all over.

These guys aren't coming up like they're supposed to (70 planted here). It's one of two different Anemones planted  by bulbs back in December. This area is spotty just like the other near the driveway... but no flowers there. Bloom time says April, May.

Dianthus plugging along, reaching about 18 inches in height now. Some scarce signs of reseeding which I'm hoping for. I'd like to see it filled in by the end of the year. Time will tell.

Tulip Pics & Others

I figured I may as well get them taken before the heat gets to them like some red ones a week ago. Gotta love the orange reddish ones; Apeldoorns Elite. They almost glow when the sun hits them right. Red ones in the center, Red Impression. Those violas sure have surprised me. I'll have plenty of them around next winter. Too bad the Daffodils died out. They would have filled in well here. And those stupid Muscari. What was I thinking?

Dutch Iris in the background growing, but I still think they're fried by coming up too early (December). Wait the package says "late spring" Maybe another month or so until I see anything. Still hope.

And from a further distance showing some more on the wall area. Juliette.

Closeup. Why I put a few Muscari in front is beyond me. I guess I thought they would be fluffier. Mexican Heather cut to the ground...ugly brown, no greenery. Misc reports say they may surprise me the next few months. Impossible to pull out...deep roots.

Golden Apeldoorns...

Purissima, and Red Impression

And some Hostas survived my garden tilling a few months ago. Upper left hand corner.

Adjacent rock garden leading down to creek. Foam flower is one, not sure of the others...

Daffodils across the creek like the cooler climate.

Buds galore on ?? The names aren't coming to me today...

Spring is here!

Little Progess - Rain

Rain, rain, and rain again. Now I'm wondering if my lawn will rot. It got so bad in late winter that algae was forming all over the place. Anyway my drainage is working well (above). Weather forecast doesn't look good for the next few days. Grrrrr.

Creek is healthy.

Ferns are sprouting all over the place including "the protected area."

Yummy Country Odors

Somebody has been fertilizing close by. The smell of crap has been in the air since yesterday afternoon. This is the first time I've noticed it around the property. Riding into town I get a whiff of it now and then. Hopefully the drizzle today will keep it at bay.

As for that plant list. I can think of a few. Hershey Red Azalea and Chinzan Azaleas are in the photo above. The Chinzan has yet to bloom, with the flowery Hershey in the background. Another small plant in front is called Mexican Heather.

Oh boy do we have all sorts of plant projects around here. I just wonder if the plant expert has more than she can handle? Tomatoe plants and other misc small vegetables to get in the ground too.

I discovered a few weeks ago before I left to Florida there's a place up the road that is offering all the mulch one needs so the pathways are being resurfaced. The original mulch (from the tree cutters in June of 2007) has been decaying so the paths needed some spucing up.

Spring Green In The Mountains

Even my lawn is green....







What else would you expect after the massive rainfall the last three months? Off to Florida until April 28.

Hail To Spring

Let's see what kind of screwy weather is left?

Tornadoes

Hurricanes

I was in town for a mere 90 minutes and on the way back saw all this white stuff piled on the banks near the local church up the road. At first I thought it was soap suds, but then thought where could it come from?

Freaking hail! Now I know my newly reseeded lawn would be a disaster I thought. A few smaller trees down in the area. Could be a darned tornado skimmed some tree tops? Parts of the upper driveway has massive ruts from the rainwater runoff, but it appears the lawn escaped damage.

Considering I put in a good eight hours on that bugger I didn't want to see a total loss. From sifting dirt into a wheelbarrow and mixing with peat moss to the actual hand planting. Over the last week the better parts have really become green.

More on the lawn and new projects this weekend.

Back To Reality? Pleasant Weather

Horse farm along 52 east about two miles from home.

Great weather day yesterday. Low 70's at 4PM. Finally a chance to get some local spring photos without cloudy and rainy backgrounds. By the way the bugs are returning. Those carpenter bees that love to drill holes on the outside of the cabin are out in small force. I think I plugged a half a dozen last year. Wasps and signs of small yellow jackets noticed today. Birds are happy, squirrels here and there. No sign of the local dogs...quiet too. A neighbor kid says they have "girlfriends." Spring is in the air.

The local mom and pop grocery another two miles from home. The place is almost 80 years old. I may go in for smokes now and then or a newspaper. I have been intigued by those posted gas prices though. $1.64? It hasn't changed in almost two months. Maybe they don't sell gas anymore. Other local prices are up near $ 1.95.

Trees have been budding for the last few weeks.

Other Stuff - East Side Near Creek

This was some work from a few weeks ago; another sitting place overlooking a small waterfall made by a fallen log. Some of these stones weren't easy to haul way over here. The current stockpile is on the other side of the house so it's a good 100 yard lug with a wheel barrel. No fun especially navigating down the winding trail.

Some new stuff popping up near the railroad tie garden along the house including some ferns. Haven't seen any fern growth in the woods yet but last year they were all over the place. May?

Rain, Rain and More Rain

And I was finally getting into the mood to work outdoors! The first three months around here has been bizarre when it comes to rainfall totals. Maybe somebody is playing with the numbers but I now come up with 54 inches since January 1.

http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KGAELLIJ3&day=26&year=2009&month=3&graphspan=year

Hard to say. Yea, my lawn has almost been impossible to walk on considering how soft it is. Footprints galore. Oh well. Some recent activity with spring color, but taking the pictures without sunlight takes the real effect away. Currently having problems uploading. The first are blossoms on some apple trees down the road.

Upon driving down to White, Georgia today to catch up with some folks I plan to do some stairs video with, spring is more obvious in the lower altitude. Considering it was raining I didn't venture out for pics. It's just a matter of days before I see the same kind of early foliage around here...maybe Sunday the sun will reappear.

More pics if they work. Running out of patience.




The above is a neighbor just off of highway 52. Their property backs up to mine at the creek over the hills. They've done some cleanup the last few months. Had alot of rusted farm machinery laying around. Some colorful tree buds.

Ooodles of these down in the lower elvations.