When I was looking up something about Mother's Day, I read in the Farmers Almanac about the "Mother's Day Rule."  It says to wait until after Mother's Day to plant.  Seems reasonable for warm weather crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and squash.  But our cool weather crops have been in the ground for over a month, and loving the cool weather.  

 

Warm weather crops don't like nighttime temperatures below 40, so we wait on these. 

 

We also keep an eye on the blackberries.  Often when the blackberries bloom, we get one last frost, affectionately referred to as "Blackberry Winter."  

 

OK, Mother's Day is past, the blackberries are looking gorgeous, and no freezing weather in the forecast.  I guess we can get busy now, since the danger of frost has passed.  

 

I love this time of year;  it is so exciting!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I had never seen Honeysuckle growing as a shrub, but here is one growing at the Methodist Church in Blairsville.  

 

As we were leaving the Fringe trees and Iris, we saw this 6 foot tall and wide shrub, and stopped for a close up view.  I was surprised to see that it is Honeysuckle.  The flowers look just like the vining Honeysuckle that we all know, and the scent is the same.  

 

My Landscape Gardening book says that they can grow up to 10 feet tall and wide.  WOW!!!  That's a lot of Honeysuckle.  

 

So while you are checking out the Fringe trees and Iris at the church, go around the corner toward the exit, and you can see this gorgeous bush. 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

And just beneath the Fringe Trees are these beautiful Iris.  And they smell divine too.  We could have stayed there all day, just breathing the air.

 

I know where you can get some Iris corms if you want to grow them in your garden.  Let me know if you're interested.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We saw the Fringe tree in the park blooming, but its blooms were up too high to get a good pic.  So we doubled back to the Methodist Church where I know there are several beautiful specimens, and took this picture.

 

They are at the entrance to the sanctuary, and when you get close to them you can smell the most gorgeous perfume.  

 

Definitely worth a trip to Blairsville to experience these trees.  They are fabulous.

 

They are probably blooming now in Yorktown too, along Fort Eustis Blvd.  I miss seeing them along the highway.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

Good job you guys!!!  For keeping your Rhododendrons alive and out of the clutches of the deer for a whole year!!!

 

They are so pretty right now, but it will soon be time to cover them with wire cages to keep the deer away.  Don't wait too long.  :D

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

Look how much the cinnamon fern has grown.  We love that there are big rocks around it, so the mowers don't get too close.  

 

It's up about 30 inches.  Beautiful at every stage.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

Look at Roxanne's Clematis in bloom.  They grow all the way up this trellis to the top of the garage, but I wanted to get the gnome in the picture too.  

 

So pretty!!!  Makes me think of a Fairyland.

 

THANKS ROXANNE!!!

 

When we were walking in the park yesterday we saw trillions of trilliums blooming.  Some pink, some white.  They grow in colonies, and always make me smile.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

Been looking for this ever since spring started.  It is blooming now.  Showy Orchis, a real native orchid in our area.  

 

My Wildflowers in Color book says that this is the southern limit of its range, and that they are common in rich woods at low and middle altitudes.  It may be common, but it is still exciting to discover an orchid blooming in the woods.

 

There used to be one on the Creekside Trail, near the bridge, but I haven't seen it yet this year.  I'll keep checking.  Let me know if you see it.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

Look how big the Bloodroot leaves get after the flowers are done.  These leaves are about the size of my open hand.  

 

They are so pretty on the forest floor.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!