A Walk on a Cold Day in April

Early Morning — April 26

 
I love after-daybreak, when the sun is just into the tree canopy, sparing one from shading their eyes while enjoying the beauty of another spring morning following a day of off and on rain. 
 
There’s a series of snapping sounds causing me to turn my head and watch.  A Robin is in hot pursuit, wings sharply flicking at the rear of a zigzagging large Grey Squirrel fleeing across the garden.  I believe there must be a nest nearby.
 
As things calm down, mother Grey Squirrel and her three offspring continue their outing in the garden, nosing around the grounds, eating what is edible.  The young have already learned to master the swinging bird feeder.  I sigh when they empty it a bit, but it’s their garden also, so I enjoy watching the young ones in their precarious journey of growing up, as only a few ever seem to make it to adulthood.
 
The gardens appear lush and weedy, but we shall ignore the interlopers and embrace beauty in bloom.  ‘My Mary’ Azalea — last week she was with a fragrance that drifted on warm breezes to greet me with pleasant sensations as I passed by.  After much conversation with myself, I gave up.  I couldn't quite compare it to anything else.  It just was.  When it is cold, as today is, the fragrance seems to hide away.

 
Byzantine Gladiolus, is void of fragrance, but an exciting treat for the eyes with her orchid-like flowers in the prairie garden.  She’s an old beauty (Year 1629) from the Mediterranean area.  A demure size by today’s standards, and she loves the sunny south side of the house.  She usually gets nicked by a late frost that warps her new leaves; then she sits and waits.   Eventually she springs back into action, sprouting new leaves and sending up those lovely herringbone patterned long flower buds bending over at the top.   One by one buds open from bottom to top in a combination of scarlet upper petals and magenta lower petals with white whiskers.  She's a delight.
 
Today’s not much of a day for staying long in the gardens.  It’s a day for a nice cup of steamy hot chocolate as I curl up in my cozy arm chair that loves me so much, and watch another episode of that “Danish Downton-by-the-sea” series titled ‘Seaside Hotel’.  

'My Mary' Azalea

Introduced by George Beasley of Georgia, and named after his wife.

Eventually grows about 6' tall, 

which it has accomplished in its large container on the patio.

All parts are poisonous if you have a desire to munch a bit.

It has problems with Lace Bugs if not kept moist enough to prevent stress.

Spent Azalea flower sliding down the pistil and stamens to fall to the ground.

Maybe a type of Crustose Lichens

Byzantine Gladiolus, Year 1629

Looks a bit different from indoors to outdoors.

It makes a terrible cut plant.

Flower colors are much prettier outdoors with lots of sun.

Early Afternoon — April 27

It’s a welcomed event of sorts, just relaxing on the back deck in the new swivel rocker chairs, although I’m so dainty I can barely budge mine into even a hint of a tilt.  I watch, a little perturbed, as Vic rocks away with the greatest of ease.  Even though it’s light jacket weather, the change from inside television to outside bird song is refreshing.

I was taken by surprise earlier this day when Vic actually produced a pair of binoculars and intensely began viewing the Grey Owl Juniper through the living room window from the couch.  He declared with alarm that a squirrel was tearing a bird’s nest apart.    I was a little skeptical, but we were instantly on a mission to save a bird’s nest that was not savable if it indeed was being ripped to shreds.

After trampling the garden a bit, we could see nothing but a big junction of branches with no nest in site.  Back in the house, I notice the horror of all horrors!!!  A tick merrily making its way up my shirt front in search of an easy meal.  He was flushed down that vortex of unholy water to kingdom come, but you know how it is with these happenings… one feels pin pricks on their skin for the rest of the day causing multiple checks in the mirror until bedtime.

Vic continued watching the junction of branches with his binoculars, saying something was still out there.  I watched next, and a blur flew into the opening and two large baby bird heads stretched up over the branch with mouths wide open for worms.  I immediately thought of the robin the day before.  It was confirmed as a robin after it flew in and out a few times.  That was our unexpected excitement for the day.

Back at the present time, our discussion on the back deck turns to identifying the fragrance of ‘My Mary’ Azalea, mostly because I’m the one keeping any kind of conversation going while we eat quiche bought from a little French restaurant earlier in the day.  After testing the smell a few times, we agree it’s mostly vanilla with a hint of cloves.  Conversation is light…mostly about childhood memories, until the chilly breezes of late afternoon chase us inside.

Carex grayi, Grey Sedge

Long spike is the staminate (male)

Mace ball type spike below is the pistillate (female)

This native plant is quite aggressive in my gardens with all the rains.

North America Wild Hyacinth

White Clover, Trifolium repens

*

I feel, after much hardship, 

that eradicating a weed from my garden isn't practical. 

Managing the weed the year before is more practical, 

although in the rush of the  greening of spring,

they all break back out of jail :(

*

I have actually used a herbicide on this little beauty in the gardens,

as it's impossible to pull up all the roots.

Common Ninebark, Physocarpus opulifolius

*

I've limbed mine up a bit to remove aggressive weeds underneath,

so it is vase shaped instead of ball shaped.

The bark has become shaggy over the years, 

giving it appeal when not blooming.

It's in full bloom now, 

but the promise of ticks prevents me from exploring it further.

Lyreleaf Sage, Salvia lyrata 

Flowers and seeds below that have formed

*

Some consider this an aggressive native, 

but it has never become a problem.

I move new plants that pop up to areas where I need them.

It lives in sun, shade, wet, dry … what's not to love.

Allegheny Spurge, Pachysandra procumbens

growing around 'Tokudama' Hosta which is now considered a cultivar.

The Hosta was originally discovered in 1860 in Nagasaki, Japan 

in the garden of  Von Siebold.  

It has never been found as a colony in the wild.  

Monarda bradburiana, Beebalm-Eastern, Bergamot

One lousy out-of-focus bug … what gives? 

Clematis 'Arabella'

All Day — April 28

Nothing, except to write this post, work on the photos, and chill out.  I finally spent time in my studio and finished setting up my laptop.  Still working on adding Norton, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Photoshop.  Don't hold your breath!  I seem to have only one speed that never gets out of first gear.  

Take care, and goodnight or good morning or good day or good grief or …

Finally! — April 29

Publishing...then out to the gardens to mingle among the ticks and weeds.

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