Look at this beautiful thing!!!  My friend in Raleigh sent it to me 5 or 6 years ago, and it has bloomed every year since.  

 

It has 4 huge blossoms, and stands about 2 feet tall.  We had to stake it because it is so heavy it kept falling over.  Well, it fell over once, then we staked it.  

 

I just love it when the Amaryllis blooms.  Thank you, Betty.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

Now for your viewing pleasure:  Mountain Laurel up close.

 

When we were walking in the park, we saw two ladies with two little girls.  One little girl had a branch of Mountain Lauren and the other little girl had a jar filled with Mountain Laurel flowers.  When we stopped to say hello (who can resist little girls walking in the park with Mom and Gramma?)  they both proudly showed their flower prizes.  I said, “Ooh, Mountain Laurel.”  And Mom and Gramma both said “Oh, is that what it is?  We are going to press the flowers when we get home.”  Sweet!!

 

I thought everybody knew Mountain Laurel, but apparently not.  I love the opportunity to share our beautiful mountain treasures.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

I know you’ve seen this before, but it is such a fun picture of me and our mother.  

 

Here’s a bit of history I read in the Farmers Almanac:

 

Mother’s Day was started by Anna M. Jarvis to honor her mother.  By 1911, all of the states in the union had Mother’s Day proclamations. And she was very clear that the holiday was to be called “Mother’s” Day (singular) —”to honor the best mother who ever lived—yours.”  In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day an annual national observance.  

 

Here is the link, if you would like to read more about Mother’s Day facts, folklore, recipes, and ideas.  https://www.farmersalmanac.com/when-mothers-day

 

 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

 

 

Last week, I showed you Poison Ivy growing up the big oak tree down the hill, but I just realized that I only showed it to you from a distance.  I need to show it to you up close.

 

The other day when we were walking in the Park, I saw some Poison Ivy and Virginia Creeper growing side-by-side.  So I took this picture and marked it up when we got home.

 

Yellow circle shows Virginia Creeper (with its 5 leaflets.)  Red circle shows Poison Ivy (3 leaflets.)  See the difference?

 

Remember, you can shake hands with 5 fingers, but not with 3.  Stay away from Poison Ivy!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

The Mountain Laurel is blooming here.  This one is at Meeks Park, but they are throughout the neighborhood as well.  

 

So pretty!!!  I hope you see some in your travels.

 

HAPPY MAY!!!

I think this picture of the Eastern Bluebird is from Wikipedia.  Cute!!!

 

The bluebirds in Yorktown are building another nest.  Yoo-hoo!!!  Here is the link for that nest box.  Maybe we can watch this one from the beginning.  

 

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

This is our neighbor’s Korean Dogwood, and it is blooming now. OMG!!!

 

I just love driving by, and seeing it.  They planted two trees 15-20 years ago, and they are truly spectacular when they bloom.

 

I hope there are Korean Dogwoods along your daily path.  They are so bright and pretty.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!! 

 

Don’t you wish you were a cat at our house?

 

No, really.  This is Gizmo.  He sleeps all day in my sewing chair.  I don’t sew too much anymore.  Unless, I can grab my chair when he goes out for a bit.  We also plan our vacuuming around his nap time.  

 

It’s OK.  We love him.

 

HAPPY MAY!!!

 

Here is the Bittersweet in bloom.  Not too striking…YET.  

 

This vine is covering the Sumac bushes on the corner at the top of Clifford’s Hill.  We stop there to rest a minute when we walk the loop.  

 

Bittersweet is deciduous and goes dormant in the winter.  It is just a tangle of vines.  Well, it has leafed out, and you can’t see anything past it.  But I thought you might like to see the blossoms that will produce those fabulous berries in the fall.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

It’s that time of year, when we all want to get outside and work in the garden.  

 

It is also the time of year that the Poison Ivy is leafing out, and threatening tidy gardeners.  

 

I love this picture of it growing up the white oak just below George and Priscilla’s.  Look at that root system:  been around for years, I’d say.  The roots are hairy, and the oil that causes dermatitis is present in every part of the plant:  leaves, stems, roots, even the smoke if it is burned.

 

Here is the reminder:  you can shake hands with 5 fingers, but not with three.  Virginia Creeper looks similar, but has five leaflets and Poison ivy has three leaflets.  It grows small, medium and large.  It creeps along the ground and climbs trees.  It is everywhere.  So learn to identify it, so you don’t fall into the nasty trap of weeding it out by hand.  Best to wear your gloves when weeding.  And for everybody’s safety, never burn garden trash that may have poison ivy in it.  Even the smoke is toxic.  

 

Just a note:  I noticed some growing down near the mailboxes, so be on the lookout.  It won’t jump out and grab you, but if you brush against it, you need to wash as soon as possible with soap and water.

 

HAPPY, SAFE GARDENING!!!