There is a little spot, right on the edge of our woods, where some daffodils were planted long, long ago. Every year they are the first of the flowers to bloom here at the cottage. There are other daffodils further into the woods and in the main garden bed. But these are the first.
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen more than two flowers emerge. No matter, they are gorgeous.
When I look around and see trees that are still leafless, though I know there are tiny buds up there, and only the beginnings of my perennials, these sweet yellow flowers tell me everything is in order.
And so it begins. I’ve taken my first photos of flowers from our gardens for 2015. Sigh. That makes me very happy indeed.
Spring may be late in coming, but when it finally arrives, it is spectacular here in the Northeast. The garden beds have been cleaned up, plants are emerging from the ground, and just this morning I noticed leaves emerging on all the wild roses. On days when their thorns prick my fingers, I call them brambles. Right now, they’re wild roses. Time enough for the brambles.
Yesterday was warm and sunny. Today is rainy. Such is the rhythm of Spring.
I love taking photos of the gardens; the leaves, the blossoms, the various stages of growth. I’m so excited that I will be able to capture all of that beauty once again.
This guy? I thought he was McCoy, but further research tells me he was made by Shawnee. He fits right in here at the cottage where Shawnee miniatures live a few feet away in the den and where pottery by many makers is celebrated.
More McCoy tomorrow.
New post up on Just Let Me Finish This Page.
Happy Friday.
What a welcome sign of Spring!
Daffodils are in short supply here, but wild roses grow everywhere. We get a lot of deer in the late summer looking for rose hips.
So do we. I love the short time in the spring when the wild roses are in bloom. Gorgeous. They are everywhere on our property.
We’re excited about your photographs as well, Claudia.
That spunky duckling is the cutest thing.
May we look forward to a little treatise on your Shawnee pieces?
Yes, but I don’t have many of them. Maybe when I have added a few more to the collection?
I am all caught up now Claudia.
I love you McCoy collection. I love the sherbet colors. I am not real fan of pastels but these are different somehow. I love how you use them for things…glasses, keys, etc. Beautiful!
The daffodils are delightful. Yellow being my favorite color I am partial to them. My first sign of Spring here in N. Minnesota are the for-get-me-nots that cover my yard with their pretty little purple flowers and sweet scent. Next up are the trillium. They grow everywhere!
I read your concern of low comments. I will try harder to comment everyday. Lately it has been easier to do a mass comment, but I will make an effort to change that for you.
Oh gosh, don’t worry about comments, Trudy! It ebbs and flows and I’m figuring out that some days there are fewer readers so I have to think about what I post on those days. You are the best. Comment when you can. Don’t worry one moment about when you can’t, my friend.
Pretty daffodil! I planted a whole bag of them last fall…and yes they were planted in the correct position. None of them have popped out! I am so disappointed. Our maples are leafing out…love that bright green color! Gonna be 76 today…more yardwork in our future! ;)
I wonder if some critters got to the bulbs, Donnamae?
Well…the ground wasn’t disturbed. Unless they tunneled in?? ;)
Could have if it was a vole or some other tunneling creature.
Dear Claudia, Spring is a fickle Maiden,I have been so smug, out here in the west with our 60-65 degrees most of February all of March and April! This week, Tuesday we got Nine inches of snow,ON THE VALLEY FLOOR! and Two to four feet in the mountains! That is a Ton of snow.
I feel like when I see early flowers and buds Spring will come for sure! No matter what happens we are headed in the right direction! I have been a fan of your blog for a long time. Your Content is always good, and,interesting. You and one other are the only two left of the original “Blogs” I started out reading, and when I don’t have time to read both? it’s your’s hands down!
Thank You for sharing your time,and life style in your Sweet Mockingbirdhill cottage.
Judy A-
Ah, thank you, Judy!
SNOW??? You poor thing! What a tease Mother Nature can be. Hang in there!
We’re starting to get daffodils here too. It’s so cheering to see these pinpoints of bright yellow in the fields and yards. Your two little first-bloomers there reminded me of our garden when I was a kid. First up every year there was a little clutch of crocuses near the front door. Once they were up, my Mom always told me to look for a robin and when I saw one, Spring was officially here. Oh, and ALL the ice on the Lake has finally melted clean away now too. Those chunky gray-green-brown bergs of yucky ice that were all along the shore are gone, and not a moment too soon. It’s nice to see the big expanses of sand back, especially in the public areas and parks. Citizen groups, Scouts etc are beginning to hold their volunteer cleanup days and soon the Winter of 2014-2015 will be a memory. I hope we catch a break next Winter too, weather-wise. We’ve certainly paid our dues. Have a great weekend!
Oh to have a less intense winter! Fingers crossed, Janet!
Hurray for the first flowers! We’re getting high 70’s here and increasing drought regulations. I received my latest water bill and I’m glad I’m doing so well using less water! Even so, my water bill will rise as I try to keep my garden alive…
A tricky balance, I would imagine, Wendy. Good for you for doing your best to decrease your water usage. I know you were doing that long before the newest restrictions.
Beautiful daffodil…the ones in our area have come and gone. I think the squirrels ate mine or maybe voles, none this year.
That little duck is adorable…is it a toothpick holder or vase?
It’s a planter, Marigene.
We have voles, but they seem to be restricting themselves to the front lawn – not that that makes me happy, but there aren’t any bulbs there they can get into!
It is always so wonderful when everything starts to emerge. We are a lot further along than you, but I enjoy every stage of spring. xo Laura
Me too, Laura. I just went outside and saw that the plants emerging from the ground have grown overnight!
I am happy to say our daffodils are blooming at the edge of the woods also..ours seem to spread more every year..Our tulips are getting their heads and will be blooming soon also..yay!..and I can’t wait to smell the wild roses and honeysuckle..Hello Spring..The little bird is precious no matter who the maker was..
Funnily enough, these daffodils don’t spread. They are always in the same place. A little clump on the edge of the woods.
Our daffodils have bloomed and gone here but the Iris’s are coming up. So much rain and I know that’s a good thing! Miss Scout made her way into the world last night (Apr 16th). She is gorgeous of course. I will do a post once they have decided on a first name. Tiger has loved on her and is quite fond of his baby sister. I have been able to spend some quality time holding her and of course I’m in love! We are so tired since we were up very late last night and then spent a good part of the day at the hospital. Tiger and I are snuggled up on the couch and I think I see an early bedtime for us. I love the Shawnee bird! I got my Etsy buys today and my ‘bird’ is unmarked and might be Shawnee also. I’ve got to research the other piece, but I do think it’s unmarked McCoy.
hugs,
Linda
Congratulations! The little one has arrived! Thank goodness Tiger can cuddle with his grandma after all the excitement. Can’t wait to hear more, my friend.
xo
Claudia
Claudia, I love the daffodils. I have always thought would have a bed of them but have yet to buy any. Sad. They just say spring. Too bad about that little duck.. he’s just precious. He has the right color too. Blessings to you and Don for a great weekend. xoxo,Susie
Oh, I don’t care that the duck is not McCoy, Susie. We bought it because we loved it. I also love Shawnee pottery.
And after the McCoy post, how about one on Shawnee, for those of us in ignorance. Thanks.
Lovely to see your yellow daffodil in bloom. In two older homes I’ve lived in, each had a patch of purple iris which would determinedly appear, so faithfully, every year. And one also had a single hollyhock which would begin to tower over everything else. It just all seemed so life-affirming, like no matter what came before, here we are again…so, get ready sunshine!
I don’t know a whole lot about Shawnee. I have just a few pieces. I can show them, but I don’t feel real qualified to do a series on them!
You must have us all searching the Internet and whatever resources we have for pottery info; I just saw a similar duck– with a quaint and worn patina online– they said possibly Shawnee also!
The Daffodils are the first here too– much sooner than yours and all have faded now. Enjoy their sunny yellow burst of color. Enjoy your weekend.
Oh! And thank you for any help you can offer, on my yellow dish!
My suspicion was that it might be Shawnee, after I didn’t see it anywhere in my reference books. So I did a little search on eBay under Shawnee & duck – and there it was!