juneSCENE IN OUR GARDEN

Scene/Seen In Huntsville

Honestly, it was only after downloading my pictures that I realized how few

of the actual flowers I had photographed at the incredible

Huntsville (Alabama) Botanical Garden!

But I assure you, this was an amazing garden.

With many features for children,

hardscape and hands-on features,

I can't imagine a better place to have spent an afternoon!

Huntsville Botanical Garden contains many themed gardens and trails, and beautifully achieves its mission to blend traditional botanical garden elements, the aesthetic heritage of the region, and the conservation of natural resources.

Whimsy was in the air...

and I believe the adults had as much fun as - or more than - the children!

I'm curious to know if any of you have been there?????
(And there really WERE many beautiful trees and shurbs, flowers, a butterfly garden, a miniature railroad winding through bonsai-decorated landscape, dogwood trail, a day-lily garden
and SO much more!)

After the Flood - Phlox

Our stroll through Island Park

was greeted by a painter's paradise!
Don't you think Monet would have painted this scene?!?

I wonder if the recent flood was responsible for the beauty

so difficult to capture with my simple, cellphone camera...

High and low - soft and spectacular...

beauty surrounds us in unexpected places and measures.

For more peeks into our wild flower safari, I invite you to my other blog.

Slowly but Surely

I know....they're so "ordinary".

But I can't get over the thrill of spring emerging.

Slowly but surely.

Finally

The very first color in our yard this year.

Finally.

Spring Initiation

Three of our grandchildren visited us for a few days.

It was Spring Initiation for our back yard.

How we enjoyed our time in the sun.

You can see the grass is just now beginning to green up!

The kids enjoyed a belated Easter egg hunt

and were opening their eggs in the picture above...

The next day, there was sun, too!

T wanted blankets to lay out and read his book.

A long-hit baseball landed in the little creek that idles through

the vacant property next door to us. Grandpa had to fish it out!

Just look at that blue sky!

Such a welcomed sight.

We used the outdoor time to set out our lawn ornaments

and various outdoor seating areas.

Can't wait till it warms up enough for morning coffee outdoors, etc...

Spring Fling

What a change from last week!

We're WAY behind last year -

I know, 'cause I checked my posts from a year ago...

but inspired by the beautiful weather

and six episodes of Carol Klein's Life in a Cottage Garden

(thanks to "heads up" from Melissa of Empress of Dirt)

husband and I have spent hours yesterday and today

trimming bushes and trees and cleaning out flower beds.

There's more to do...but we've made a good start!

I guess you could call this our Spring Fling.

It's Sprong

Sprong = Spring Gone Wrong!

At Last

Actually, today is the first day I've even had the urge to check out

the condition of our yard and flower beds!

The sun is shining. It's still chilly and snow is forecast for tomorrow,

but at last I think we're turning the corner from winter to spring!

This Too is March

A Mini-Grove

My husband has spent many hours cleaning out his work space in our garage. He came across a lot of scrap wood and put together some really interesting Yard Art for me!

These were made out of some cabinet doors (samples) that he'd picked up somewhere (free, of course). After dismantling them and creating chalkboards from the middle parts of them, he had these narrow strips left over.

This is what we came up with!

Once the ground thaws, I'm going to "plant" a mini-grove

in one of our flower beds!

I'm kind of excited.

Waiting...

...patiently.

Ice Sculpture

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony. William Henry Channing 1810-1884

Irises come in many forms, shapes, colors and sizes and the sword-like foliage is attractive when the plant is not in bloom. The genus Iris is a large genus of bulbous and rhizomatous perennials.

The Iris was named after the goddess of the rainbow because of its many colors.
A flower on the Sphinx is considered to be an Iris, and another appears on a bas-relief of the 18th Egyptian dynasty.
Pliny also knew the Iris and praised its medicinal virtues.
The Iris was also a favourite flower of the Moslems, who took it to Spain after their conquest in the 8th century.

Bought at a local plant sale, Spring of 2009 Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium; syn. Chrysanthemum parthenium (L.) Pers., Pyrethrum parthenium Sm.) is a traditional medicinal herb which is found in many old gardens, and is also occasionally grown for ornament. The plant grows into a small bush up to around 18 inches high, with citrus-scented leaves and is covered by flowers reminiscent of daisies. It spreads rapidly, and they will cover a wide area after a few years. It is also commonly seen in the literature by its synonyms, Chrysanthemum parthenium (L.) Bernh. and Pyrethrum parthenium (L.) Sm.

I'D PICK MORE DAISIES
If I could live my life again
I'd be a little lazy
I'd stop this rushing to and fro
And stop and pick more daisies
Through all the lovely summer months
Though days be clear or hazy
No more to fret over tasks undone,
I'd stop to pick a daisy
Not so important what I did
This fact time now discloses
While running through life's garden green
I'd stop to smell the roses
If I could hold my little ones
The children in my care
I'd scold them less and love them more
With so much love to share
If I could pass this way again
Though folks might think I'm crazy
I'd work and worry less, but I'd
Take time to pick a daisy
The rush of life has passed me by
Now I have leisure hours
But time has taken such a toll
It's too late to pick the flowers.

Mildred F. Rowe

MEASURE YOUR HEALTH...by your sympathy with morning and spring. If there is no response in you to the awakening of nature, if the prospect of an early morning walk does not banish sleep, if the warble of the first bluebird does not thrill you--know that the morning and the spring of your life are past. Thus may you feel your pulse. (Thoreau)

"God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on the trees and flowers and clouds and stars." (Martin Luther)

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

The soul of a child is the loveliest flower
That grows in the garden of God
It's climb is from weakness to knowledge and power,
To the sky from the clay to the clod.
To beauty and sweetness it grows under care
Neglected, 'tis ragged and wild.
'Tis a plant that is tender, but wondrously rare,
The sweet wistfull soul of a child.

Be tender, O Gardener, and give it it's share
Of moisture, of warmth and of light,
And let it not lack for th painstaking care
To protect it from frost and from blight.
A glad day will come when it's bloom shall unfold,
It will seem that an angel has smiled,
Reflecting a beauty and sweetness untold
In the sensitive soul of a child.

...Author Unknown

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord,
With flowers bright and fair;
And every one who seeks may pluck
A lovely cluster there.
Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine,
And jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depths
For every searcher there.

Thy Word is like a starry host:
A thousand rays of light
Are seen to guard the traveler,
And make his pathway bright.
Thy Word is like an armory,
Where soldiers may repair,
And find, for life's long battle-day,
All needful weapons there.

Oh, may I love Thy precious Word,
May I explore the mine,
May I its fragrant flowers glen,
May light upon me shine!
Oh, may I find my armor there!
Thy Word my trusty sword,
I'll learn to fight with every foe
The battle of the Lord.

(Edwin Hodder, Thy Word Is Like a Garden, Lord)