Now here is an awesome stand of Bamboo.  I took this picture on the grounds at Duke.  I wanted you to see this particular variety of bamboo.  The canes are at least 2 inches in diameter, and it is really pretty.  

 

We've all seen the skinny caned bamboo that folks plant in their yards not realizing that it grows really fast, and spreads like crazy.  In fact, I've heard that the mission of bamboo is to take over the world.  

 

But not this kind:  it is definitely ornamental, quite stately, and obviously a source of great fun for Duke students over the years.  Thought you'd like to see it.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

It is a small bushy tree with these gorgeous bright orange flowers.  And you see those little bud thingies?

 

Do you know what it is?  Got any guesses?  

 

It is a Pomegranate tree.  Yep, those pomegranates.  And the little bud thingies are the fruits forming after the blooms fade.  This particular one is at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, and there are a few of them.  One is quite old, and nearly 8 feet tall.  If you go, some are planted in front of Baker Hall, and the big one is on the back side of the Japanese Garden.

 

Pretty cool, huh?  I think so.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I saw this Clematis blooming up a trellis, and it really caught my eye.  It is dark, and the leaves are a lot bigger than the one I have grown.  It is lovely;  and almost as pretty as mine.  Here is the whole trellis.

 

 

Pretty, huh?

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

 

See?  From white all the way through red.  Love them!!!

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

As you can see, I didn't take this picture in the mountains.  I am still at the Beach, and everywhere you look the Knockout roses are blooming.  I don't want to grow them in my yard, but I love seeing them.  

 

They bloom all spring and summer and, if well-maintained they will continue blooming into the fall.  They grow in our area too, and come in lots of colors;  from white through pink to this bright red.  

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

 

 

As I was walking the other day, I noticed this nice little kitchen garden alongside the flower beds.  There is Yarrow, Parsley, and these beautiful chives.  So I pinched a few leaves of chives and added them to our Lemon Orzo.

 

Maybe I will add that to the recipe section.  It is easy and delicious!!

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

See the little tree with the dark red leaves?  It is a Redbud!!!  I didn't get to see it when it was blooming, so I don't know what color the flowers are, but it is really pretty now.  The leaves will stay this color until the fall, and then I have no idea what color they will be before they drop for the winter.  I guess I need to come back to Yorktown to find out.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I love the bearded iris, and these are SO pretty.  They smell good too.  They are on my morning walk path here in Virginia Beach.  If course, I have to bend down and give them a sniff.  It makes my morning!!!

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

This is the cutest thing.  See these yellow "dandelion" flowers?  This is one stem with two blossoms.  Linda picked it last Wednesday on her walk.  That night the flowers closed up.  She thought it was done.  BUT, WAIT!!!  The next day when it got light they opened up again.  Not new blossoms, the same two.  That's so cool!!

 

Well, they closed up on Thursday night and opened on Friday;  closed up Friday night and opened again on Saturday.  I wonder how long they will last.  I'll let you know.

 

Oh, yeah:  it's called Common Cat's Ear.  Love it!!!

 

Here she is:  last year's Mullein.  It grew in my driveway from a seed and this beautiful rosette survived the winter.  It was not pretty, but it survived.  Now it is thriving, getting bigger and will bloom.  

 

When I cut down all the bloom spikes last fall, I walked around my yard shaking the stalks.  I hope to find some first year plants from that seeding.  We'll see...

 

But for now, we are going to have a Mullein bloom!!!  Yay!!!   Even if it is in the driveway.  

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!