We’re in the midst of a frothy sea of white blossoms here at the cottage. It only lasts a short time, but it sure is beautiful while it’s happening.
I’ve mentioned the wild roses that bloom this time of year. Since the brambles/roses are all over the property, so are the white flowers.
On the edge of the woods, in the area between our neighbor’s property and ours, climbing up trees.
From a distance, you just see white dots. But up close, what perfect little flowers! And the pink buds are making my heat beat a little faster.
At some point, when the blossoms have vanished for another year, I’ll be cursing these very same wild plants. They will be called brambles or prickers. They just might be cursed a few times. But now….oh, how beautiful.
To add to the sea of white, the catalpa has bloomed.
Do you see the white blossoms scattered among the leaves?
This is what they look like. Perfect white flowers with streaks of purple and yellow. And they smell heavenly. But alas, their bloom time is even shorter than the wild roses.
They fall to the ground within a day or two. Since it’s raining today, I suspect I’ll find many of them on the ground by the end of the day, which makes me sad. I always want to shout to the heavens: “Don’t rain for a week, okay? The peonies are in bloom, the catalpa is blooming. They’re fragile. So hold off!”
But invariably it will rain. And rain. And I’ll try to rescue the peonies. But I know I can’t rescue the catalpa flowers. It doesn’t work. I’ve tried it.
Last year, I missed the catalpa bloom entirely. So I’m grateful to witness it this year.
Oh, by the way, their are at least four groundhog babies. Maybe five. Yesterday morning, I watched them playing outside the shed. They ran back and forth. They climbed up on the picket fence that leans against the shed, weaving in and out of the pickets. They hid behind and under the hostas. They had a grand old time, just like baby animals everywhere.
Mom was nearby, probably saying to herself, “Maybe this will tire them out and they’ll take a nap!” I’ve learned that the babies start to leave home and dig their own tunnels to live in after about three weeks of eating and foraging outside the nest. Where will they go? I’ll miss them. And then Henry/Henrietta will be alone again. Sigh.
Don and I stood inside the kitchen and watched the frolicking brood for the longest time. They are adorable.
Happy Monday.
I recall baby groundhogs across the road at our last home and oh, how busy they were. Those flowers on your trees are so dainty and lovely. How sad that the rain took them down so soon.
Oh, they haven’t fallen yet, Diane. But I expect many will be down by the end of the day tomorrow.
The beauty that surrounds you is really special. I love when everything blooms! Those roses are so pretty!! Oh little babies do make me smile! I’m glad you got to watch them. I’ve been so blessed that my duplex neighbor has been doing some work on our yard and put down mulch yesterday even on my side. How nice of him. He planted some flowers also. I will get some photos. Today is pampering day, getting my hair cut for sure and maybe a pedi!
hugs,
Linda
Good for you! Pamper yourself! And what a nice neighbor you have.
Golly, aren’t those flowers just beautiful! The pink with the white……heavenly! We have the wild roses here too and my husband has also thrown a few words their way! I appreciate how enamored you are with the groundhog family, and they are very cute. But from our experience,the holes they dig throughout the yard can be real ankle-turners! We have several acres, so they may be more inclined to do that in a larger area, but just be aware! During a pick-up ball game here, the outfield was a dangerous place!
They have never dug holes in the yard. Other critter occasionally do, like moles and voles. But the groundhogs limit themselves to under the shed. Thank goodness!
I was just over at susie’s and saw her lawn all covered with the beautiful white blooms of her catalpa tree too Claudia. Their blooms are so lovely. We aren’t able to grow them here in our zone (or altitude) but we were just in Boise Saturday and all theirs were blooming and it was gorgeous!
Have a lovely week!
hugs from here…
They are so pretty. Our neighbors have a catalpa and we have three more of them off in the woods. I love them!
Even those things we call weeds, and sometimes curse, most usually have a pretty side, too. Do you remember a few years back when people were planting all white flowers in certain gardens and calling them moon gardens? Maybe they still have/ plant them, I just haven’t seen them talked about in the past couple of years. I hope that, unlike “mantle decorators”, they didn’t just yank them out and plant the newest flavor of the month…..I want to believe they are still enjoying their quiet beauty in the night.
I love white gardens. I don’t have one, but I do think they are so lovely. A lot of white flowers have more fragrance at night.
I think it’s wonderful how all the trees and bushes have filled out…and in just a few short weeks. Your wild roses are beautiful…hard to imagine they turn into brambles…almost like in a dark fairy tale! I’ll bet you are totally enjoying those youngsters…can you make a video on your camera? ;)
They’re too far away, I think. I can’t go outside or they’d run away.
Love your flowers Claudia – so beautiful. Our wild roses have finished blooming. Next will be the “Seven Sisters Rose” which is not wild but looks it. It climbs all over a tree in our yard and has the most beautiful pink blossoms. The original plant was on my husband’s grandmother’s farm in Virginia, so it is a special plant to us. Our honeysuckle has started blooming and oh! the scent! Especially early in the morning and around dusk. Heavenly. Enjoy those baby groundhogs for me. Still no sign of Steve (our groundhog).
Hope Steve turns up, Vera.
I haven’t seen this many groundhog babies ever. I’m enjoying them immensely.
The flowers on your tree are so beautiful. I’ve never seen those before, just amazing. Such a delicate flower for such a big tree.
I really miss watching the groundhog babies that were born under our shed every spring in Michigan. They were so cute. I’m sure Henrietta will have another brood next spring.
I love seeing pictures of your yard and all the little critters. All I see here in Florida are lizards! They’re cure but not quite the same.
This morning two of them were playfully wrestling! Goodness, they’re cute!
Yes, I agree. Lizards are unique and beautiful in their way, but they don’t do cute, do they?
Your trees are beautiful. I love babies of any sort, but right now I am mad at groundhogs! They have built tunnels under our family’s 100+ year old barn and have undermined it’s structure so that we will probably lose it. They have dug so many tunnels and holes on the farm that it has become dangerous to mow–always afraid of a tractor upsetting.
I read your blog almost daily–we have some of the same collections. You have inspired me to start another collection–the Penguin Jane Austen classics:).
I’ve heard about that sort of thing happening with groundhogs. It may even be happening with the shed, but so far it seems fairly sturdy. No tunnels elsewhere on the property, but this sure seems to be common on farms. So sorry!
Oh! How I envy you. Apart from the birds and next doors cat, the only creature I get in my garden is slugs. There are only 3 creatures in this world that I really dislike, and that’s crocodiles/alligators, sharks and slugs. I know the first 2 would make lovely handbags or shoes,but slugs…no thank you. I know every creature in this world has a purpose, but what do slugs do, apart from lurk in my hallway for me to tread on when I go to the loo at night? We have just had a new letterbox installed and that seems to have solved the problem. Who knew the little so and sos (I’m being polite) could squeeze through such a tiny opening in the front door. By the way I would love to send you some pics of my garden (It’s my pride and joy). but I don’t know your e=mail address. Mine is technoturt@yahoo.com. Blessinggs
Lesley, my address is right at the top of my sidebar. Just click on the envelope icon and you can send me an email!
That is a rather magnificent tree and I enjoyed getting a good look at its beautiful flowers. Weeds and all, I love springtime.
Karen
The catalpa flower looks like one the hummingbirds would enjoy being that they are trumpet shaped..they are so pretty..I will have to watch down back from the window and see if we have any baby groundhogs here..I love watching baby animals play together..Thunderstorms here today!
Claudia, It looks pretty at your place. I love those white roses. I thought of you as our catalpa tree bloomed .:) I hate when it rains while the peonies are blooming…they just do not stand up very well in wind and rain. But I think they have a beautiful flower. Hope you get to enjoy yours a while. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
Such lovely blooms and beautiful pictures. I didn’t know catalpa trees had such pretty blooms. There are a couple in my neighbourhood, I will have to go check them out! It is such a pretty and exciting time of year!
Our Catalpa Trees have long since bloomed- at the time I believe the plum trees had white blooms on them too. It is a lovely sight.
I just put pictures up over the weekend of ours at the CIGAR BEAN STAGE! And yes… They are still fascinating to see!
Your garden is lovely. I think we are all enamored with the ground hog family.
Interesting… I just watched Ground Hog Day ( with Bill Murray) for the first time ever on Sunday. Profound message to that story.
Funny side note… Thought I’d share it!
Beautiful flowers. Are we going to get a picture of the babies?