Spring…Finally

I saw today that some of the upper passes in Colorado had snow. I think we are finally done with winter here in the Midwest, even though it is going down in the low 50s for Easter morning.

So I am going to share some of the early color in my yard…for now. I am just getting started. I can’t help but smile when I start seeing trees bud and the early bulbs pop through to share their beauty. Even though my allergies take a hit, I love spring.

My yellow daffodil varieties are usually the first to show their pretty faces. Then the doubled white daffodils come in with the tulips. Most of my tulips have not opened yet, so I still get that smile to come.

I put in some early perennials that I hope return each year.

I have become interested in English daisies since we saw them already blooming when we went to England in February.

This next group I have heard of but never have planted them. The nemesia is a pot of mixed colors.

These last two are from my church. When we did some major cleaning of overgrown shrubs around the courtyard, we found a small azalea trying its best to survive. And now it looks great. Then last summer, a storm took down one of our large oak trees, so we made a planter out of it.

We planted some perennials in the rotting trunk, hoping they will grow and cascade over the sides.

I hope you are enjoying your spring. Let the smiling faces of the flowers help you smile, and as always, remember to be kind. Kindness creates smiles inside as well as outside.

Fun at the Feeder

Our spring here in Iowa is taking another nap allowing winter to re-dip his cold fingers back into our season. With an expected hard freeze, I took the liberty to move what plants I could into the sunroom. This room is not heated but it will not be as cold as outside or allow the chance for frost. The remaining plants I have covered with towels or sheets. While this will not protect them much from the cold, it will protect them from potential frost.

So I restocked the feeders and let the birds entertain me. We saw the familiar family of mourning doves with their feathers fluffed up against the old.

Another frequent visitor, especially with fresh peanuts available, is the Blue Jay.

The Red Breasted Woodpecker is always a fun bird to watch but they stay more to the feeder with the nuts already in pieces.

Other birds were available like Wrens, House Finches, and Sparrows but I was not quick enough with my little camera that is on my phone to capture their fun.

Hopefully by Wednesday, we will revert back to normal springtime temperatures. I hope it settles soon as its time to start thinking “All Things Garden”. In the mean time, let us think warm thoughts and be kind to all things.

FOTD, April 8, Emergence

While I loved the bright orange azaleas in Cee’s pictures, I have to be realistic…we got two inches of snow last week…after Easter. So I give you the emergence of the bulbs in my yard because, NOW…spring is finally here.

In the front yard, we have a daffodil trio of the large trumpet daffodils and then the double daffodils in yellow and white.

The first two shots are flowers the birds planted, a pink and a purple hydrangea, and a red tulip. The last one is the reemergence of a Dianthus. I planted four last year and this is the only one that seemed to have survived our sub-zero winter this year.

And to show you I wasn’t kidding about the snow last week. Snow in April… ridiculous.

The daffodils in the back yard are smaller blooms with bright orange centers.

I love the happiness of a daffodil, plus they are supposed to help deter moles…they are not doing that but they are still pretty.

As spring brings smiles to a lot of us, share those smiles with others and echo those smiles with kindness.

I Know Its Still March but…

Old Man Winter is refusing to turn loose his grip. While I am thankful for only the inch we got, as Cedar Rapids got 5 inches…I am still done. Thank you very much for coming but leave…

The sunset the other day was so much prettier but we knew he wasn’t fully done.

As we take a deep breath for being teased that spring would be early…we know soon the sweet lady of spring will be here. And until then we patiently wait and remember to be kind. Kindness can warm our hearts until spring is FINALLY here to stay.

FOTD, 3/12 Spring Rebirth

Cee’s Flower of the Day is always a wonderful reminder of the beauty of this earth. Spring is a time of rebirth of many bulbs, trees, and sometimes even us humans. Last fall I moved stuff around in yard and covered up one of my daffodil bulbs without realizing it. This morning as I was moving things again, I moved that block and was sad that I had coved a bulb and shocked at its determination to survive.

Without the sun, no chlorophyl was made but still the plant pushed through. By this afternoon, it was beginning to stand tall reaching for the sun, broken but alive. Other bulbs coming up in my tard are the crocus as well as other daffodils.

And my lilac bushes are budding. Can’t wait for their fragrance to fill the air with their beautiful and delicate blooms.

Other Daffodils and crocus flowers…

While pollen and I are not friends…I still love the beauty of spring. May you all have a wonderful and colorful spring. And remember the beauty of kindness and may you share it often.

In Cometh March

While I am technically not located in Hail Alley (those states in the center of the country from Texas to North Dakota), Iowa can still see some damage from hail. Today is March 3rd and where I come from hail comes from those tall thunderheads during the summer…its not even spring yet. (Sigh) But as the saying goes…and it works pretty good for Iowa…If march comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion or if it comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb. I would not call this coming in like a lion but get whiz this stuff hurts when you are running to your house from the car. Hopefully this small pea size hail did not dent my car.

Bouncing on the roof like tiny ping pong balls

Poor plant trying to come back from his winter nap.

Well here’s hoping the rest of March is calm…wouldn’t bet on it but you can always hope. Even though Mother Nature is choosing not to be kind, we can outdo her and always be kind.

Not the Solution I wanted

I have been looking for solutions to the huge problem of sparrow invasion. We know they are tiny take over birds but I thought with the right food, I could eliminate some of the problem.

They can clean out this feeder in a day. But as I watched today I saw what I think the real problem is…which is why I quit using sunflower seeds in the first place.

He is jumping from the fence to the platform feeder and then jumping onto the pole with the peanuts that are supposed to be for the woodpeckers. I have a slinky on the pole down at the bottom so they can’t climb the pole but jumping is different.

Dang yard Rats!! They are incredibly intelligent and resourceful. I need to rearrange the feeders this spring. I really need to get rid of the platform feeder but that one has sentimental value with it. So I will have to think outside the box on that one.

I will definitely go back to safflower seeds. That at least will keep the squirrels at bay. The things you do to enjoy watching the birds. Stay tuned for more spring pics as the weather warms and we get to play outside more. It’s coming…

Remember as the the temps begin to warm, let your heart warm as well and be kind.

Spring and Babies

Who doesn’t love a baby…well some critters I don’t care for but spring always brings out the babies we (generally) love to see. Like mamma Robin and her baby…

Then in the community garden at the church we have baby rabbits. While they can be a pest and did eat my string beans…🥺, they are still so cute. I just replanted and added marigolds to help run them off from tender shoots.

Spring is a time when we bird watchers get excited about all the new life we see at the feeders. Their colors are so bright and they are very talkative.

Spring helps us relax from winter doldrums and get ready to smile and breathe in the fresh air (after I take an allergy pill) and enjoy new life for another season.

As you enjoy the sights you see of spring, remember to always be kind. Even the animals understand what kindness is.

First Spring Walk, FOTD

Many of you who read my blog, know that we were hit with a devasting storm the first week of April. We are still cleaning up downed tree from the 90 MPH straight line wind. I was reminded today, on my first official walk and photo fun of spring 2023, that God is always in charge. While some homes were damaged(including mine), there were no deaths from this straight line beast. The small tornado that touched down at the same time about 1/2 mile from us, did however take a life. Spring storms can not be taken lightly here in the US. Last week, I noticed my neighbor had lost an lovely ornamental fruit tree. It was super sad to me as it was in full bud. But today as I walked by the pile of debris ready for the tree service people to pick up I saw the buds had opened, still showing their beauty, even though torn from the tree and laying on the ground. Spring still came.

Mother Nature has powerful storms and a beauty she shares in all of the nature that surrounds us. Below are some of the pictures I took today on for first walk of spring. I hope you enjoy them and are enjoying the spring in your area.

My neighbors pear tree is beautiful but while I was at the stoplight by the park, I got rained on by magnolia flower petals and had to go takes some pictures.

The flowers in my yard are just opening up and I wanted to share their happy faces as Cee reminds us with her FOTD challenge.

As we begin the warmer weather, where the beauty of flowers begins to make us smile, let us not forget the kindness they are reflecting with their beauty and always be kind.

In Like a Lamb…Out like a Lion

But for us, it is flipped. March came in super easy, almost unseasonably warm. The entire month was a weird roller coaster from warm to very cold. Now the entire midwest and south is in for a severe ride.

For the first time in more than 2 years, the Storm Prediction Center has issued a 5 out 5 threat for severe weather in parts of the middle of the country. The Weather Channel

Line 1 just slipped past us with small hail that sounded like pebbles slamming against the windows. Currently a large tornado with 3 inch hail is headed to Iowa City. Mother nature can be a beast in the spring and her format is changing, or rather moving, with global warming.

Line 2 is due through here around 6 with possible tornados and heavy hail. Hang on to your hats folks – it is moving east. The deep south and east coast could have severe weather tonight through tomorrow. The problem with these current sets of lines is they are loaded with supercells. These are some shots taken of supercells last year in our area. Wicked looking monsters.

According to the forecasters’, that is the worse scenario as each supercell can generate severe weather and/or tornadoes. Mississippi was hit last week with tornados and this storm front is split into two section – one in the middle of the country and one in the south.

Everyone needs to pay attention to what the weather is doing. You never know when she may unleash her fury on your area. So be careful, be mindful and most of all be kind. Especially if your area gets imploded. Disaster needs kindness from everyone so that we can survive the madness of our own storms.