Sorry to have misled you.  I've been misleading myself on this for years.

 

I was just looking through the Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers, and realize that what I have been calling Bluets all these years are actually Speedwell, the genus name is Veronica.   Bluets are in the genus Houstonia.

 

They both have tiny blue flowers with four petals, and they both bloom this time of year.  I just lumped them altogether, calling them all Bluets.  Nope, not true.  They are two different genera from two different families.  I should have put the Seek app on them earlier.  Oh well.  Live and learn.

 

These are Houstonia, Bluets, and are scattered throughout our neighborhood.  Veronica, or Speedwell are the tiny blue flowers at the park, and the ones in the picture of the dandelion on Tuesday.

 

I love them both.  Sorry for the confusion.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I checked the Bluebird nest in Yorktown yesterday,  and there was 1 little blue egg in it.  Today there are two!!!  Time to start checking every day to see the progress.  I couldn't remember how long it takes, so I asked Siri, and she sent me to VirginiaBluebirds.org and this is what I found out:

 

 

FASCINATING!!!  Go check it out, and watch for yourself.

 

 

Thanks Linda for teaching me about the Wild Birds Unlimited Angelcam.  LOVE IT!!!

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

The other day when we were on Henry's porch, he pointed down into his yard and said, "What is that tree?"  I gasped at its beauty, and replied.  It's probably a Purple leaf Plum.  They are blooming all around town right now.  

 

Purple leaf plums bloom in early spring, before the leaves emerge.  So what we see are pale pink flowers against dark trunks.  When the leaves emerge, they are dark purple, creating a gorgeous contrast along with the pink flowers.  The trees are grown more for this early spring display than for any tiny fruits that may appear in summer.  You can see several beside Lee and Cindy's driveway, already starting to leaf out while still in full bloom.  

 

When you're out and about, look for these beautiful trees, they are really pretty right now.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

OK.  Here's our chance to use technology for a good thing.  Click on the link and go find out about St. Patrick's Day.  Way more there than I need to copy and paste.  

 

 

Have fun!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!   

 

Signing my cards:  Gerry O'Trout

 

My favorite flowers...today.

 

Do you know anybody who actually takes pictures of dandelions?  Well, I do:  ME.  Or should that be I?  I DO!!  Anyway...I loved this picture with the dandelion and bluets together.  

 

Millions of dollars are spent on herbicides to remove dandelions from lawns and gardens.  I'm not sure why people hate them.   I love them.  I welcome them into my garden, in my lawn, and in my kitchen.  Dandelion greens are edible, and delicious in a salad or cooked, and they are a rich source of vitamins A and C.  Dandelion flowers are cheerful and useful.  They can be made into wine, or boiled for a yellow dye, and they are great food for pollinators.  When they go to seed, they send little parachutes flying all around, we call them fairies.  What's not to love?

 

Of course, we should only eat dandelions foraged from places where we are SURE they haven't seen any herbicide.  

 

Give them a taste, or just enjoy the bright yellow flowers;  dandelions are great!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Here is the first Bradford Pear we've seen in bloom.  It's the one just above Al's.

 

I took this picture on Friday last week for the folks who aren't here in Five Forks right now.  We ALL love to see the Bradford Pears in bloom.  Sorry you couldn't be here.  I'll try to get a good picture of the entrance when they all bloom.  

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

Text from Mark.  Apparently that's what those trees are called.  I love it.  And what a great looking hiking stick.  Nice job!!!

 

The swirl was caused by a honeysuckle vine wrapping itself around a young tree, and the tree continued to grow.  We see them all around the neighborhood, everywhere that honeysuckle and bittersweet grow.  They look really cool, especially now that we know what to call them.  

 

THANKS MARK!!!

 

 

From the Farmers Almanac 

 

 

Tomorrow is the start of Daylight Saving Time.  I read that the correct way to say it is Daylight Saving Time, not savings.  We are saving daylight.

 

Interesting trivia on DST:  In the US, only Arizona and Hawaii do not recognize DST;  40 countries around the world DO recognize DST.  

 

Here is the Old Indian joke reference:  he said:  "Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

These tête-à-tête daffodils are blooming in my garden.  They are only about 6 inches tall.  

 

I think we planted about 25 bulbs, 10 years ago, and they are sprinkled about here and there.  Little splashes of sunshine all over our yard.  I love that the deer don't bother them, and neither do the squirrels.  So they've been able to multiply.

 

When somebody asks me what my favorite flower is, I have to reply:  Today it is daffodils, but ask me again another day, because it changes.  They are ALL my favorites.  It just depends on the season;  ok, it just depends on the day.  Yesterday it was Pieris.  Today it's daffodils. Tomorrow......TBD

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!  

 

 

 

One of my favorite shrubs:  Pieris japonica.  It has several common names, Japanese Andromeda and Lily-of-the-valley shrub.  Whatever you call it, it is a fabulous plant.  

 

Pieris is a woody perennial, and blooms late winter into early spring, with chains of white or pink flowers that resemble Lilies-of-the-valley.  They grow best in part shade, and generally grow 4-6 feet, but I've seen them in Norfolk's Botanical Garden as high as 12 feet.  

 

There are two in Carol's garden planted in oak barrels, and they seem to be quite happy.  I love seeing them.  Especially this dark pink variety.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!