Despite feeling less-than-stellar, can I tell you how happy it makes me to take pictures of the garden in its early stages? Or in any stage? I am so honored to be able to witness its daily, sometimes hourly, changes. It is a privilege that I never, ever take for granted. After many, many years of apartment living and/or house rentals where I couldn’t have a garden or if I could, I had to tend a very small patch of ground, here I am in the country in a little cottage surrounded by gardens, all of which I have put in and nurtured over these past nine – almost ten – years.
I am such a happy girl when this time of year rolls around. Yes, I’m blowing my nose, I’m sneezing, I’m coughing endlessly…but I can still grab a camera and capture nature’s beauty.
A little peek at yesterday’s offerings:
The daffodils in the main garden bed are blooming. These were planted long ago – before my time here – and I very grateful to the man or woman who put these bulbs in the ground.
The crown vetch, which I use as a ground cover in the part of the large garden bed that is right under the sugar maple, is filling in.
They’re opening! And I caught a whiff of their heady scent. Heavenly.
I love perennial gardening. All of the garden beds are planted with perennials. The only annuals I plant are impatiens; though since I’ve been overwintering them, they are a sort of constant and I save money, besides. And the barrel planters and any planters on the funky patio contain annuals. I plant the chicken wire fence garden from seed with zinnias and morning glories. When we lived in San Diego, morning glories were perennials – they covered the entire length of chain link fence that surrounded our backyard. Here in the northeast, they are most definitely annuals.
But the garden beds? Perennials, added bit by bit as the budget allowed over the course of 5 or 6 years. I started with the large garden bed, then the bed in front of the house, then I added two more beds on the far side of the house. Perennial gardening takes patience because there is often no payoff for a couple of years. But it’s so worth it!
And finally, after this endless winter, things are blooming. The trees all have leaves, except the Catalpa, which is always the last one to bud. But when it does, it’s spectacular.
I’m off to Hartford for the day. I have to watch a run-through of Kiss Me Kate, take notes, and give them to the actors. I’ll drive back today. It will be a long day, but it will be fun to see the whole show. I will be armed with cough drops and kleenex and water.
Happy Wednesday.
Beautiful pictures Claudia. Hope you have a good day in Hartford and you are feeling a little better.
Thank you, Marilyn!
I love perennials, too. They are, of course, the backbone of any garden. My spring bulbs have finished blooming, as well as the lilac, but I have peonies and iris that are just stunnining.
Peonies don’t bloom here until about the first week of June. But, oh, how I look forward to their beauty!
I am hoping to start some plants around the duplex. I can’t afford much, but even a few flowers will make such a difference. Your gardens make me smile. Hope you have a good day in Hartford.
Linda
I added just a few plants every year because we were – and are – on such a limited budget. A little can make a big difference!
Lovely pictures! I was unfamiliar with crown vetch…I found out that it is attractive to deer…since I already provide dinner to them already…I don’t think I want to encourage them further! Oh well….can’t wait to see more pics of your gardens…it always encourages me. Hope you have a good day! ;)
The deer have never messed with the crown vetch, I’m happy to say. It might be because it’s relatively close to the house.
That’s probably the answer. All I know is, all of my hostas along the sidewalk, were eaten by the deer. That’s because I didn’t get out there fast enough with my liquid fence! But, they have recovered…unless you look really close! ;)
Oh, I hope the coughing stays at bay while you are viewing the play.
The daffodil photos are wonderful… is that a spider web trailing that I see? Wonderful! Perennials are truly a joy. I marvel every year when they actually come back again!! As I have gotten older, I also appreciate that they are less work in the long run.
Safe travels, kiddo!!
It is – the kind of thing I would never notice but through the camera lens. I love that sort of thing.
Glad you are feeling some better. Travel safe.
Judy
A little better each day but this thing is still hanging on. I would like it totally gone, please!
How pretty. Could you send some spring here? We are in the midst of a very heavy snowstorm. (I would have been a useless pioneer.) I hope you have a moment to take some pictures today – would love to see some!
Oh, I’m so sorry about the snowstorm!
No time for pictures in Hartford. And I don’t take pictures in the rehearsal room because I think that’s rather private territory – once we hit the stage I might try to sneak some in.
You have such a big space for plants. I have a fairly good size yard, considering it’s a development, but I have only one neighbor, so it feels spacious. I love perennials too, and I do manage to keep impatiens going for quite a few seasons. Safe drive to and from Hartford. Hope your coughing gets better soon. Now that I’m ok, my piano teacher has caught a cold/cough, so I’m missing another lesson. Doubling up next week. Whew…gives me more time to practice…
I’m glad you’re better, Wendy. This bug has really hung on. I’m still not well, but I am feeling better. It’s been nothing but a royal pain in the tush!
Beautiful Claudia..Enjoy the play..
Thank you, Nancy. The musical is in great shape – truly amazing work by all.
Love the perennial plants I have some and I have a few annuals I like seeing the color in the yard. Your photos are beautiful. Glad you feel well enough to work.
Drive safe!
Thank you, Pat. I made it through the day, but it was exhausting! Still, I’m proud of myself.
Well, I’m thinking that at least it’s good Don is home for now, so that he can look after Scout, or else you couldn’t take the work.
But I’m also wondering, how did you learn about gardening? Did you have a mentor; did you just do the ‘learn as you go’ or ‘learn by trial and error?’
It is the way things have to be now. We each have to make sure the other is free to watch Scout before we accept a job. Thank goodness we have that flexibility, for the most part.
As for gardening, I learned as I did it. I researched, read books, but mostly, just dove in. My grandmother gardened, but I never thought to ask her about it while she was alive. My mom and dad had a vegetable garden, but not much of a flower garden. So it was just me, sticking my toe in the soil. Trial and error, that’s how you learn, I think. Some plants work, some don’t. I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than gardening. I truly love it.
Your photographs are stunning, Claudia.
Thank you so much, Nancy.
Have kleenex will travel is the mark of a woman.
Well, I had a big box of kleenex with me! So I am quite a woman!
Your images are reminiscent of those magical moments of coming upon a flower and feeling so blessed. Beautiful! Due to the events in my life i’m not getting here as often but am so very happy to see glimpses of your presence on Instagram !!!! ( even though,i know!!! it is not the same) Thank-you Claudia! You are such a sweet soul<3 I really feel for your working through being under the weather and wish you well!
Thank you, Grace. I hope all is well with you, my friend.