Sweet lilacs. Sigh.
The orange-red blossoms of the weigela are adding a splash to the green landscape.
Poppy and catmint. A study in texture and color.
Daffodils, grasses, yarrow (in the background.)
Hostas unfurling their leaves.
And my mysterious miracle bulbs, long buried under too much soil, rescued and replanted – aren’t they gorgeous? Such beautiful hyacinths they are.
I haven’t mulched, nor do I have the time to do that. Which means I will be doing a lot of weeding when I get back. I haven’t planted any of my seeds because I usually wait until after May 1st. Since we had such a cold, long winter, I think I’ll wait a few weeks to be on the safe side. And frankly, mowing is taking up a lot of my time. Don and I both took turns with the mower yesterday – all of the front lawn (which is huge) is done, along with the dog corral. Today I’ll tackle the back forty. The grass isn’t as long back there but if I wait until I come back for another visit to mow, it will be.
All that mowing equals some sore muscles. The first few mowing sessions in the spring are always tough, but so worth it as we gaze at the newly green expanse of front lawn. There’s so much to do around here but I have to pick my battles with only 48 hours at home. Next time? Mulching, pot and window box planting, hanging plants, porch arranging. I can’t wait! This is my favorite time of year because I love to garden, I love being outside and losing all sense of time while tending to my garden beds. It makes me very, very happy.
Don made my favorite dinner last night – Crab Cakes without the crab. I can’t remember the exact name of the recipe but as a former crab cake lover who is a vegetarian, I have to say these taste so much like crab cakes that I would never know the difference. Actually, I think they taste even better! Ummm mmmm good! We watched A Few Good Men, which is such a great movie. Jack Nicholson is brilliant.
There’s much to do today before I head back to Hartford tomorrow morning. Priority one: cuddling Don and Scout. Time goes by so quickly!
Happy Tuesday.
An enjoyable peek into your garden! I love lilacs. When I was young, there was a lilac bush outside my bedroom window. I remember my mom cutting bunches for me to bring to school for the teacher. And the hostas remind me of quilted fabric. Enjoy your cuddle time with Don and Scout!!
I think I have to amend the soil for the lilac – it’s a small bush that I planted a few years ago. It flowers but not as much as I’d like it to.
I share your feeling about gardening – so much work and hours spent, but totally worth it! Your pictures show your sweet reward.
Every spring I end up feeling like the wait was well worth it!
Oh Claudia-what a sight for sore eyes! I barely have green tips poking through the soil-in fact just yesterday there were still patches of snow and ice here and there-so this is such heaven to look at! I am glad you were able to see those glorious hyacinth before you had to head back- I can almost smell them! Hope you get a cuddle overload that lasts you till you are able to return home again ♥
Take heart, spring will be there for you soon!
Claudia, I’m so jealous! My lilacs are only little buds and my forsythia is sulking and refusing to come out and play in my garden! I do see upward progress with my daylilies though, so hopefully my garden will soon be filling out as nicely as yours. Probably just as I leave on vacation in a couple of weeks! Safe travels back to Hartford–I hope you had plenty of nice snuggle time! xxoo, Martha
In the 12 days I was gone there was an enormous change in the garden, Martha. Hang in there!
Love the smell of hyacinths! Your lilacs are further along than mine. The rule here is no seed planting until Mother’s Day. This has been such a lousy Spring– we’ll see what May brings!
Yes, I think about 2 weeks from now should do it.
Hi Claudia!! Your garden pictures are beautiful!!! Glad you are enjoying your visit back home and getting out to garden!! It sure does take your mind off of things and it is so peaceful to be enjoying nature!! Those hyacinths are such a great shade of purple!! Love them!! Enjoy your time off with Don and Scoutie!! Francine
I will, Francine!
This has been a tough spring for many. None of my flowers have shown their faces but my neighbors are all up! Odd.
Lilacs are my favorites. They truly say to me that spring has sprung!
Enjoy your time with Dn and Scout.
Blessings,
Betsy
I love lilacs – rather short-lived, but so lovely!
Beautiful garden pictures..Glad you got home..
Thanks, Missy!
Your yard looks so nice after seeing so many snow photos! Hope you had a good weekend at home!
Have a great day.
Judy
Having a great time – lots of hard work outside, but it feels good.
That is one gorgeous quince…does it get those little fruit on it too? Our lilacs are just a memory of last year, it will be a while before they show their heads this spring.
Don’t overdo it with the mowing…you know it will grow back again anyways.
Jen
Though it looks like a quince, it’s a wiegela. The flowers are almost identical. It doesn’t bear any fruit or have any thorns.
Wonderful photos, Claudia–I miss my huge Weigela bush that stood by my porch door… along with the plethora of hostas in my front flower beds, and the lilac tree just beyond the big kitchen window of my beautiful old home. Thank you for bringing back such fond memories :-) Safe journey back to Hartford.
Weigela get very, very big, don’t they? This one is probably about 7 feet tall.
Claudia, Looks like you were home in time to enjoy your wonderful flowers. Love the photos. You will have to have Don print out his recipe for the people who love crab cakes. xoxo,Susie
I know there will be so many more flowers while I’m away! Sob.
You must be in your bliss. I enjoyed the walk around.
I love my garden, Beverly.
Oh your yard looks so pretty Claudia!
Spring is finally showing for you! What beauty to come home to, if even, for a short time!
Enjoy your cuddles. :)
I will, Pat!
When my garden gets older…it’s gonna look just like yours! Mine is still in it’s infancy…so I’ll live vicariously through yours! ;)
This garden is about 7 years old this summer. A few of the hostas and sedums were here, and the weigela, but that’s it. Everything else I planted. And they are all perennials.
Your second flower is what I thought was quince. I think your hyacinths are blooming in abandon because they are thanking you for rescuing them. :-)
It does look a great deal like quince, but it doesn’t bear any fruit, and it doesn’t have thorny branches. It’s a weigela – and there are tons of varieties of weigela. I think the hyacinths are happy, too.
Your garden is look wonderful! I am so glad you have this time home to do some of your much loved gardening and of course cuddle time!
hugs,
Linda
I have imprint in on my brain to keep me going until I can come back again.
Would love to know more about the crabless crabcake for all us vegetarians over here. You have my curiousity up!
Garden looks great.
I pass this on to Don, Cindy.
Flowers are so wonderful aren’t they Claudia? I also love Springtime in the garden..Is there anything that smells better than lilacs and hyacinths? My son planted a lilac bush for me last week..he also put in a bush rose and another forsythia..I can hardly wait for them to “grow up”.. Enjoy the little time you have left to cuddle with your loves this evening and have a safe trip back..Hugs!
Flowers and spring and the garden = heaven.
All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar.
Helen Hayes
Springtime in the garden is so beautiful! Sorry you aren’t there to enjoy all of it. Our lilac buds just started to open up today. LOVE!
Well, I’m enjoying it today, and hopefully, I can get back in a couple of weeks.
would Don please post the recipe for crabless crab cakes? I would LOVE to try it
Have a safe trip back and a smooth move into the apartment :)
Cuddle away and enjoy every minute!
XO,
Sheila
Isn’t it amazing how quickly everything bloomed? Your area is ahead of ours – we just now have a few things blooming and hostas are barely poking out of the ground. Mulching is a huge job – we haven’t done it yet either. So much yard work to do once all that snow melts and the weather warms up! Crab cakes without crab…hmm, I can’t imagine what would be in it besides bread crumbs, mayo, and onion, lol!
I am with you in regards to those sore mowing muscles ; did it Saturday and it needs mowed again already!
Stunning. I love the pics.