Spring: A Delicate Season

The season of Greening is about over. Soon we will be in the throes of Georgia heat. Before that happens I wanted to share the view from the porch (and a few places around town).

Early Spring: The earth warms and the bulbs push their new shoots up into the sun. The weather flits between winter and summer, calling for t-shirts one day, and sweatshirts or coats the next. Sunglow yellow brightens the woods in the profusion of daffodils and forsythia. However, in my yard, forsythia is a wishful thought. It puts up an effort, but this bush that is usually hard to kill, struggles.

This is one of three that were planted here 10 years ago, and it is by far the biggest one.

The Bradford Pear, clothed as a spring bride, heralds the coming season; white floral blooms springing to life throughout the woods.

April is the BIG month. Everything starts to happen. I love April, here. I love to see the mountain hillsides change from winter drab to its many shades of green; everything from apple green to a darker blue-green. I don't have any idea which trees are which, but together they create a beautiful kaleidoscope of shape and color.

Since discovering trillium growing throughout our woods a few years ago, each year invites a new treasure hunt to see if I can find the tiny wildflower.

Another treasure hunt is for the Dwarf Wild Iris.

Barely 4" tall this delicate flower sprouts up in leaf beds, in April. I'd never seen it before I moved here.

The flowering trees are the star of the season. Pink, white: Dogwood, Cherry, Apple, Oh my.

Watching the apple tree this year has been exciting. After struggling for so many years, it has really come to life. Because the deer kept eating it's foliage when we lived in Pittsburgh, we put it in a pot on the deck. The picture above is the tree the first year it was planted in the ground here in Georgia after being in a pot for so long. The picture below is the tree this spring. 

Happy Apple

The Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Mt. Laurel with their showy blooms are the crowning glory; the final stage as spring leans towards summer.

Rhododendron blooms come in a beautiful variety of colors.

Rhododendron bud opening up

Mountain Laurel is a more delicate relation to the rhododendron with its tiny cupped flowers. Though poisonous to animals and humans alike, in my yard the tufted titmouse love to hide in the safety of it's branches.

A walk in the woods reveals the native Flaming Azalea.

After Larry's busy work schedule through the winter, we are often traveling in Spring, Being here this spring to watch the woods come to life has been a delicious treat for me. Next up....Summer. And that means Family, Trips, Grandkids visiting.... Ah, the icing on the cake!