Treasure Box Wednesday: April Showers and Whatnot

April showers bring...

Er... bring.... (checks calendar)...


...Okay, so if you rely on proverbs, some flowers are just a wee bit ahead of their time.

But let's not tell 'em, shall we? Because we know a true lady likes to arrive just a teensy bit after the party has started, anyway.


As you can see, the daffs are dillies this year... Very lacy and bright. And those azaleas I was so worried about just a week or so ago?...


...Have never looked better! So vivid and pinkish-purple, you'd think they never felt a snowy crystal upon their petals.


And the Grape Hyacinth? Well, anyone who's watched "Keeping Up Appearances" knows a Hyacinth is one very resilient gal...


Why, look at that bouquet!


And then some treasures are promises to come. Like these bleeding hearts. You can just see the hearts beginning to take form there on the right...


And the first buds of the mossy phlox...


The front yard is just beginning to the bloom, and the backyard is color to come. In a few weeks, it'll be a dazzling display of pale blues, lavenders and pinks!

And then... then there are the ones that plant themselves.


Who is this bit of greenery with the pink buds? I have no idea. It was not planted by my hand. Perhaps Mother Nature would care to weigh in? Do the leaves look a bit like Verbena?

No idea. But I think I'll leave it as it's planted, at least for a while. Who am I, after all, to tell Lady Spring I know better than she does?

Before we go today-- if you haven't already left a comment on the giveaway post, don't miss out! I'm giving away two Nancy Drew journals to two lucky winners! The drawing winners will be announced Sunday.

• So click here to check out the post, leave a comment and enter. All are welcome!

Thanks muchly, and see you on Sunday!

Treasure Box Wednesday: April Showers and Whatnot

April showers bring...

Er... bring.... (checks calendar)...


...Okay, so if you rely on proverbs, some flowers are just a wee bit ahead of their time.

But let's not tell 'em, shall we? Because we know a true lady likes to arrive just a teensy bit after the party has started, anyway.


As you can see, the daffs are dillies this year... Very lacy and bright. And those azaleas I was so worried about just a week or so ago?...


...Have never looked better! So vivid and pinkish-purple, you'd think they never felt a snowy crystal upon their petals.


And the Grape Hyacinth? Well, anyone who's watched "Keeping Up Appearances" knows a Hyacinth is one very resilient gal...


Why, look at that bouquet!


And then some treasures are promises to come. Like these bleeding hearts. You can just see the hearts beginning to take form there on the right...


And the first buds of the mossy phlox...


The front yard is just beginning to the bloom, and the backyard is color to come. In a few weeks, it'll be a dazzling display of pale blues, lavenders and pinks!

And then... then there are the ones that plant themselves.


Who is this bit of greenery with the pink buds? I have no idea. It was not planted by my hand. Perhaps Mother Nature would care to weigh in? Do the leaves look a bit like Verbena?

No idea. But I think I'll leave it as it's planted, at least for a while. Who am I, after all, to tell Lady Spring I know better than she does?

Before we go today-- if you haven't already left a comment on the giveaway post, don't miss out! I'm giving away two Nancy Drew journals to two lucky winners! The drawing winners will be announced Sunday.

• So click here to check out the post, leave a comment and enter. All are welcome!

Thanks muchly, and see you on Sunday!

Treasure Box Wednesday: The Best Things in Life Are Free

This is my absolute favorite time of year. The world has gone bright with blooms, showcasing some of the treasures in life you just can't buy.

Well, okay, yes, sometimes you have to buy them to plant them. But not always! Like these little fellows in my neighbor's yard...


I don't know what they are (anyone know? Greg?), but I love how they've just nestled themselves in her grass and then run rampant. The reason she hasn't mowed the grass yet is because of an attachment to these free-roaming little purple and white lovelies...


And who can blame her? When nature puts on a display like this, forcing it into submission just seems wrong somehow.


And here are some more rogue flowers. Little violas that have infiltrated the neighborhood, and have embedded themselves wherever there's dirt and a drink of water-- even between the cracks in my driveway...


I just can't move myself to root them out. It's so cheery to come home to a driveway populated with little purple blossoms. :) As you're probably already getting the impression, I try to roll with nature's whims a bit; I like to think we're both happier that way.

The backyard has also given forth a pretty amazing display of mossy phlox. Here they are after some morning rain, dripping down my back wall onto the plaster seat. I wish they stayed this vibrant all summer long.


Also, the bleeding heart this year has gotten large, and is loaded with hearts. No Victorian garden is complete without one!



And lastly, here you can see the front yard, filled to bursting with more mossy phlox-- and the infamous mosaiced stepping stones.


Well, I hope you enjoyed this somewhat different Treasure Box Wednesday. I think it's nice to take a step back and appreciate all the natural beauty around us now and then. It's not all about the thrift store. (Though that's fun, too!)

Oh- for those who have children of your own, or who just remember being a kid, I thought you might enjoy a post this week on my humor blog entitled, "Stealth Mom and the Mayonnaise Infiltration of 82."

• If you've ever tried to make your kid eat something he or she didn't like-- or if you were that kid (pick me, pick me!)-- I believe you'll be able to identify. Click here to check it out.

• Also, if you didn't get a chance to see Sunday's post on the Cottage Living forum's spring swap, you might find something of interest by clicking here.
  

May there be an excellent day ahead of you!

Treasure Box Wednesday: The Best Things in Life Are Free

This is my absolute favorite time of year. The world has gone bright with blooms, showcasing some of the treasures in life you just can't buy.

Well, okay, yes, sometimes you have to buy them to plant them. But not always! Like these little fellows in my neighbor's yard...


I don't know what they are (anyone know? Greg?), but I love how they've just nestled themselves in her grass and then run rampant. The reason she hasn't mowed the grass yet is because of an attachment to these free-roaming little purple and white lovelies...


And who can blame her? When nature puts on a display like this, forcing it into submission just seems wrong somehow.


And here are some more rogue flowers. Little violas that have infiltrated the neighborhood, and have embedded themselves wherever there's dirt and a drink of water-- even between the cracks in my driveway...


I just can't move myself to root them out. It's so cheery to come home to a driveway populated with little purple blossoms. :) As you're probably already getting the impression, I try to roll with nature's whims a bit; I like to think we're both happier that way.

The backyard has also given forth a pretty amazing display of mossy phlox. Here they are after some morning rain, dripping down my back wall onto the plaster seat. I wish they stayed this vibrant all summer long.


Also, the bleeding heart this year has gotten large, and is loaded with hearts. No Victorian garden is complete without one!



And lastly, here you can see the front yard, filled to bursting with more mossy phlox-- and the infamous mosaiced stepping stones.


Well, I hope you enjoyed this somewhat different Treasure Box Wednesday. I think it's nice to take a step back and appreciate all the natural beauty around us now and then. It's not all about the thrift store. (Though that's fun, too!)

Oh- for those who have children of your own, or who just remember being a kid, I thought you might enjoy a post this week on my humor blog entitled, "Stealth Mom and the Mayonnaise Infiltration of 82."

• If you've ever tried to make your kid eat something he or she didn't like-- or if you were that kid (pick me, pick me!)-- I believe you'll be able to identify. Click here to check it out.

• Also, if you didn't get a chance to see Sunday's post on the Cottage Living forum's spring swap, you might find something of interest by clicking here.
  

May there be an excellent day ahead of you!