Whose Garden?

I'm sure you have 'em too!! The acrobat of the suburban garden, the furry, tail balancing, glittery-eyed grey squirrel. Wire walking, cunning, quick as lightning, eat and chew on everything. If you watch closely you can almost see them thinking, smart little devils that they are! "Let's spend a few minutes getting the hang of this bird feeder; how about lifting the lid off the compost bin for a meal; bread for the birds, no way, it's my lunch and I plan to gobble it all."
"Squirrel-proof" is an unknown phrase in squirrel language.


Took these pics yesterday morning as the sun came up with the promise of a perfect day. Our run of pre-Spring hot days is over, we're now expecting several rainy days with cool temperatures.



This oak tree hangs over our deck and its lower branches have still to discard a few remaining dead leaves prior to new green ones bursting forth. The little broken branch always seems to have a squirrel perched on it munching an acorn or a hickory nut. In the early morning sun he almost looks like a red squirrel, which we don't have here. The surrounding trees are old and huge with dozens of squirrel nests visible high in the branches..............we just know they will be around for ever!

Who visits your garden these days? Do you enjoy watching wildlife?

First Signs.......

Today will be another busy one.........just had to share this bit of Nature with you to brighten up the day.

They were nodding in the gusty wind yesterday outside the kitchen window. Bright sparks of yellow between green leaves. They seemed to shoot up overnight in this warm spell we've had for several days. Daffodils, one of the earliest Spring blooms. Accompanied by the arrival of many robins on the lawn, it certainly made one feel the change in the season is not far off.

The signs of Spring.

Later in the afternoon, when the sun was warm, I took my granddaughter to the nearby pond. Armed with a bag of food, we fed a few ducks and an army of Canada geese. Turtles were sunning on the tree trunks in the water, the Carolina blue sky was brilliant.......all seemed perfect in our little world. I couldn't resist and picked just two sprigs of fat, dangling catkins, beautiful with the daffodils.

I hope you will enjoy the early signs of Spring arriving in your garden soon.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary..........

...................how does your garden grow?

Yesterday afternoon I walked out on to the deck where daffodils are now popping up in containers..........................

...................over to the potting shed where the five leafed Akebia is sprouting and even has a few tiny purple bell flowers in bloom. I love this climber.

More daffodils pushing up through the mulch of oak leaves, golden buds bursting open.

These are King Alfred - huge blooms on strong stems.

This is a favorite ~ Ice Follies, pale and frothy like an ice skater's dress! A butterfly bush growing rapidly by the back fence.


This dainty blossom on a bush which is getting very large, fills an entire corner now ~ not sure of the name, it was a pass-along from a neighbor. Please can anyone tell me what it is ?

..................and this which is actually my current painting project! A perfect day to be outside armed with Heritage White spray paint. I'm almost ashamed to tell you how long I've taken to finish this piece. It is a sewing machine cabinet inherited from a dear friend five years ago! I've always intended to make it my bedside table. A yucky brown, I first painted it green about three years ago, but then.................well I decided to change my bedroom colors so it wasn't right. It's been stuck in the potting shed until yesterday when I carried it outside, washed it down, and took aim with the spray cans. It took three coats and looks quite good. I'll distress and wax it with BriWax once the paint has cured. Instead of replacing the metal decorative handle on the front I plan to add a resin applique such as a swag of roses, painted and distressed to make it look old and shabby. Maybe then, at long last, it will come inside and be put to good use.

Spring in my step

pring has come to

North Carolina!

I hope all snowbound friends will soon have scenery such as this in their neighborhoods.
~~~~~ Sending Spring your way ~~~~~