Pages

March 20, 2016

Vernal Equinox ~ 2016



Happy 'first day of spring'!!!  Everywhere we go, we see signs of it...Redbuds in bloom, trees leafing out, and racks and racks of plants for sale everywhere.  I'm waiting patiently for a week or two when I can see if I have room for any new purchases.  Meanwhile, I'm happy to see the return of some old friends...

'White Queen' Caladium, first of many.



Salvia Farinacea's returning everywhere, it's 'Victoria' or 'Sally'.



'Formosa' Azalea



'Mrs. G.G. Gerbing' by the back deck.



Saucer Magnolias, M. x soulangeana...I have no idea of the cultivar.  While trying to identify them, I learned that there are over 100 named cultivars, so mine will be the light ones and the dark  ones.  Real scientific, huh?

Light pink bloomer...



Dark pink...



Devil's Backbone



Even prettier with a Gray Catbird visiting.



These begonias have been in this pot for years.  I trimmed them up a few weeks ago and they're ready to bloom another year.



Holly Ferns are putting on their luscious new growth.  They spread around easily in the shade gardens by way of spores.



Desert Roses are beginning to bloom, but still scantily clad with leaves.




Yesterday, while enjoying a drizzling rain on the front porch, we saw our first Hummingbird of the season.  He headed straight for the Aloe, but the flowers have not quite opened yet.  There are numerous plants on the market sold as hummer enticements, and I have some of them.  I can only say that I've never seen a hummer on some of them, while Aloe has always been a magnet for hummers in my yard.



Some of the last Camellia blooms of the season, 'Dr. Tinsley'.



What could say spring better than a Carolina Wren building a nest?  We watched these two work together all morning.  I was delighted to see this one find a piece of  hydrangea bloom for the nest, next year I'll leave more scattered about...





By the end of the day, a beautiful nest!  We have enjoyed watching these two for several years.  The first year they nested on the porch, they built on top of the post that's under the box.  My husband added the box after the first brood flew.



One last thing to share,  this morning the Wood Ducks were on the bird feeder.  I took this photo through the window, but he's still magnificent.



I hope you're having the spring of your dreams!




12 comments:

  1. Oh my! So much activity there! Lovely blooms and thank you for the close-up shots of the wrens. We have been trying to identify them in our yard and the stripe along the head confirms it.
    Happy spring, Janice! May all of your buds grace you with beauty all season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Daisy, and thanks. I love that little wren, they have such a boisterous voice. It looks like one more cool night, then back to spring. _Janice

      Delete
  2. What a great post! I love all of your blooms and birds and ducks are delightful.

    Happy Spring ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my goodness, Janice . . . such perfection ~ always.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your pictures of the wrens at work, and the catbird looks so lovely among the pink and white leaves. I've never seen a wood duck before. He's so perfect he looks like a statue. He is truly magnificent!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Leslie, that's just what I thought about the wood duck...he looks like a decoy...so perfect. My goodness, nature really decorates the male in the species of birds. _Janice

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great pics sis...we have chickadees that have babies and a ladderback woodpecker in one of the boxes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hell-o brother...thought about you this morning, was hoping you didn't get frost. The birds seem to be on a mission this year to increase their numbers. _YFS_Janice

      Delete
  7. I will be in autumn soon but I can certainly appreciate your spring colors. The bird is a great bonus!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful photos and images of all these wonderful sign of Spring. Love them!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a beautiful Southern spring garden. It must bring you much joy when you walk through it. So glad spring has arrived.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello Janice! I love seeing all the spring flowers! I especially enjoyed seeing the lovely bird photos. It must be so exciting to have the Carolina wrens nesting so close. How clever to put up the box for them to return to. It will be wonderful to watch their progress. I often have them nesting in the garden but they get quite aggressive with me if I get too close and dive bomb my head! The wood duck is gorgeous too - what a great photo! It looked like he was quacking "Hello"! Have a lovely week.
    - Kate

    ReplyDelete