Friday, April 21, 2017

Early Spring On The Mountain Top

Down in the valley Spring is in full swing. 

Not so much up here on the Mountain Top. 

Spring comes to us slowly, delicately. 


From a distance it appears as if the only difference is that the piles of snow have melted. 

The trees are still bare, the woods are still without their leafy undergrowth. 


But getting closer, we see that the shrubs are waking up all along the new fence. I'm excited to watch these shrubs become more mature, as I know the contrast of the Tangelo Barberry and Lemon Candy Ninebark will be quite dramatic. 


The gardens on either side of the garden steps have yet to bloom, but there's plenty of healthy growth. 


The first of the Daffodils has opened, although last night's heavy rains left it hanging its head. 

I slept with both bedroom windows cracked open, smelling the fresh spring air and letting the sound of the rain lull me to sleep. 


Mornings are no longer spent in the comfy chair next to the fire, but rather, coffee and camera in tow, walking every inch of the gardens, looking for new growth. 


Last spring the Forsythia never bloomed at all, and it was dearly missed. 


The same with the Rhododendrons. It was the worst Spring for blooms I can recall. 


There are Pansies, as always, to brighten Spring days. I am a frequent visitor to the garden centers in late March looking for those first flats of Pansies. On the Mountain Top they often bloom through the summer and well into the fall. 


I think it shall be a good season for Lilacs, as well. The deer left them alone all winter, which is quite surprising, and I may see flowers on even the young shrubs, planted just two years ago during my first spring in the house. 


This is one of the young Lilacs, a housewarming gift from my sweet parents, who clearly know what I love. 

Lilacs are one of my all time favorites. 

As are Peonies, Hydrangeas, Roses, and Clematis. 

I planted multiples of each that very first spring, and as they are now in their third season, I hope this year I am finally surrounded by their scented blooms. 


I love watching spring creep up to the Mountain Top, it's truly a magical experience. 

I am truly blessed. 

30 comments:

  1. I have found that after about 3 years, perennials really take off. My clematis has a lot of blooms, much more than the last two years. I know how excited you are to walk around and see everything waking up! I don't have nearly the gardening space you do, but I walk around my patio with excitement every day.
    Brenda

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    1. I hop out of bed with a lot more enthusiasm these days, Brenda, anxious to get outside and see what's new! I know you are the very same, my friend!!

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  2. Your gardens were so pretty last year, I know they will really shine this year too.

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    1. As long as the weeds don't get the best of me, Marty!

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  3. Your flowers are the same favorites as mine. Lilacs are probably my favorite shrub. I also love Sweet Violets that bloom in the spring...and peonies and roses! This area has not come into spring yet either. I do see that the willow trees have quickened this week and that always tells me that spring is not far off. We have sun today and I am so ready for that after several gloomy, rainy days.
    Hope you have a good weekend- xo Diana

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    1. I keep walking around checking all the lilac trees, Diana - I now have 8, I believe, since I added 4 the year I moved in. It looks like I might get blooms on at least 5 of them, I'm so excited! And I see 9 of the 11 peonies popping out of the ground....there was only 1 here when I bought the house, I'm praying for some blooms on the new ones this year! Isn't spring just a wonderful time of the year? xo

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  4. It is beginning to look spring like. The buds everywhere. I am eager to see your pretty yard when it gets a bit warmer. Hope you have a fabulous weekend, blessings, xoxo, Susie

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    1. I'm sure it's looking like summer in your area by now, Susie! We had a mild frost last night but nothing crazy, and I hope we don't get a hard frost at this point or all those buds will be in vain!

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  5. I too love lilacs, but unfortunately neither of the bushes I planted survived a couple of years ago, so we dug them out and planted other buses that are now thriving quite well. We are much further south than you, so springtime in our mountains is well under way. Rain rain rain these next few days!

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    1. That's a shame, I had the same thing at a previous home. I bought expensive potted Lilacs, planted them with care....and nothing. Then I bought a 5 pack of bare root lilacs from a discount store, threw them in the ground, and they took off! Lilacs do not like to be fed, apparently, and I guess they don't like to be babied either. Go figure!

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  6. Beautiful. Love seeing all the new buds popping too. Happy Weekend Deb.
    Kris

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    1. I bet you can't wait to get into your new garden and make it gorgeous, Kris!

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  7. Thank you for sharing your gardens awakening this spring. I look forward to seeing so much beauty there as they fully awaken, bringing you much joy.

    Have a lovely Sunday and a great upcoming week ~ FlowerLady

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    1. I think of you often as I'm wandering around my gardens, Lorraine - I put in ten rosebushes in the last two years and it looks like they are all survivors, yippee!

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  8. It is just beautiful where you live but I would not like to contend with the bears! Be safe! Nancy

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    1. I don't blame you, Nancy, I don't much like contending with the bears myself!

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  9. I love seeing all the new growth also. It seems like every day there is a new surprise to discover. :)

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    1. So true, Debbie, and I almost hate to go to work, afraid I might miss something new!

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  10. You were so wise to get all those shrubs planted the first year at your mountain home, Deb. I hope those lilacs bloom for your because there's nothing better than the smell of lilacs in a garden! We had them at our previous home and I need to get one planted here. Enjoy the arrival of spring!

    We woke up to a dusting of snow this morning. :o(

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    1. Oh no, Vickie, not more snow, yikes! I'm hoping it melts quickly for you. We had a touch of frost last night but nothing to worry about. I watch the weather forecast like a madwoman at this time of year!

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  11. Your spring looks like the way our spring looked until Friday. Then boom! Green buds on the trees (accompanied by tons of sneezing!), blooms on the flowering trees and forsythia. It's about time! Hope your "boom" shows up soon. ;)

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    1. Oh I hear you with the sneezing, Kim! As much as I try to deal with my allergies holistically all year, I had to go back to Allegra for the time being - I was a sniveling mess!!

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  12. I know all about the difference between the mountains and the valleys, in springtime, it can seem like a world of difference! We just have buds here still, no blooms yet. My tulips are getting close! I can't wait, and like you, I love the quiet still ways springtime comes, truly we are blessed :) Love your new fence, by the way!

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    1. Thanks, Marilyn! My sweetie installed that fence for me last summer, I love it! I always wanted a split rail fence, there's just something so truly 'country' about it!! :)

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  13. Lovely signs of spring. Here in the neighborhood I am enjoying all of the pretty dogwoods that are currently in bloom.

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    1. Nice, Deb! I dug up the dogwood that was in the center of the garden after two springs without so much as a bud. I gave it to my parents, and I'm hoping it blooms for them as their home is down in the valley. They have other dogwoods that do fine, but we never see them up here on the mountain top. My Japanese Maple I put in its place is doing wonderfully, however! Should be leafing out any day now!

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  14. It's so pretty on your mountain. It's amazing how a few hundred miles and a few hundred feet of elevation can be so different in my home and yours. My forsythia bloomed over a month ago. I'm glad you had blooms this year!

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    1. It really is amazing, Laurie, but what amazes me every single time is that when I just drive off the mountain top (10 miles away, maybe less) it is like a whole different world, everything is blooming like mad!

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  15. Checking for new growth in the spring is a favorite time for me, too. Hope your lilac puts on a spectacular show. We have one old-fashioned plant, two ever-bloomers and two Miss Kims. One of the Miss Kims is the size of a small shed now. I would love to see the new shrubs you planted along your fence, once they leaf out. Barberries are sturdy plants...the plumbers dug up one of ours and it sat out all winter on top of the ground. Hubs replanted it and you can't tell what happened.

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    1. They are leafing out nicely now, Donna, I'll share a photo when they do. The ninebark is spectacular, such a bright color against the black mulch, I just love it!! I admit, I obsessively walk around my yard each morning and afternoon looking to see what's coming up/back. In the morning, with my coffee....in the evening, with a cocktail. I love gardening season, even though it's a ton of hard work!

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