And then today school was canceled due to snow! Flip flop weather, coming back into the 70's by Thursday.

Spring Heralds

More signs of the early Spring!

The star magnolia on Fairgrounds at the entrance of Fair Woods development has been in bloom for a few days now. It may last 2 weeks at the most but it sure is another herald of spring in these parts.   Between the location of this specimen and seeing it at a Maymont Garden show years past, I did buy and plant one a few years ago. It blooms beautifully but later than the others I see. It is still young.

I think I said in my last post that the willow tree in the front yard is dripping with its tiny green pearls. The leaf buds are filling out. My son says they are super mini corn stalks.

The pear trees... today was the first day I noticed a hint of color from the second floor windows. Wow. I hope they have a great display this year.   

Birds of paradise

The weather forecasters say it'll hit 80 today. That's something!

We knew spring came early this year because of the American woodcock mating dance we've witnessed and now the Spring peepers are blaring every night. I found this website that explains the woodcock and its dance as well as its whistle dance sound. It's great:  http://mrines.com/Birds/woodcock/

Our bird of paradise plant has finally bloomed. after 10 1/2 years after being brought back from our honeymoon in Maui, it is blooming beautifully. I only hope that it is not like the 40-50 year Haleakala silver sword and this is its only time in the sun and then a sure death.

I'm quite sure that we purchased it, our plumeria cuttings, tuberose, and dwarf schefflera lava planting at Dan's Greenhouse in Lahaina. They've traveled far... from HI to NJ to VA and still going strong.

Warm February day in the gardens

I've been waiting for today to mulch the mailbox garden. The weather forecasters told us that today would hit 60. Whether it has or not, I dunno. Probably since I'm out without a jacket. It is quite lovely outside!

I went over to our local southern states to pick up some mulch. I chose 3 bags of statesman pine bark. The mailbox only needed one so I am using the rest in the butterfly pet cemetary plot.

Our area YMCA have started their training for the sports backers monument 10k and our local team runs through our neighborhood every Saturday as a group and small groups every day it seems. I feel like I can do my part to enhance their run by cleaning up the front of the house at least since running is not my thing.

The mailbox area was easy enough. I've lost some soil due to erosion so I dumped an old hanging baskets soil in there. I also got to admire the pansies that are perky and bright since the fall planting still. There are a few crocus and iris corms that I moved there last year.

Before laying the butterfly garden mulch down, I'm cleaning up the iris leaves and cut the butterfly bush branches down about half. I know my mother in law would suggest more but that was all I could handle. It is just so amazing how much that thing can grow in a season. I just wish it would bloom sooner. Although it does last well into the autumn to feed those straggler butterfly's.

I also decided to top off some of the green giant thujas that border our back yard. I know it is not recommended but they are mine and are my experiment at my living fence shrub. It smells like Christmas trees! I know I had to do it now before they were too thick and tall for my lops.

Of course there are plenty of yellow crocus around in the grass although never enough for my liking. Wasn't too happy to see some dandelions already up. The hyacinths and daffodils that are up already are midgets. Guess that's what such a mild winter here in central Virginia does to them.

So back to the out of doors and perhaps I can shoot some photos to post!

Test from the iPad

When i first got the iPad i thought i tried to make a blog post and it was not supported. May be now? This is a test!