First Day of Spring

When you think of the first day of Spring you probably think of something like this. Warm, sunny and colorful.

I definitely DON'T think of this for the first day of Spring.

It was just three days ago that I took this photo of Sara and Tzipi.

But woke up to this scene earlier today.

Three days ago frolicking in the warm, Spring, green grass.

Today, frolicking in the snow.

Warm beautiful weather. Finally, a chance to shed shoes and socks, let your tootsies breath, feel the cool grass between your toes.

Stark, cold, frozen and depressing.

Fun in the sun with your cousin.

Snowbound again!

Oh when, oh when will Spring be here to stay?

Looking For Spring

I love the seasonal changes. I always fantasize about living in Hawaii, but I know I would miss the seasonal order. I know . . . I complain a lot during the Winter Season. It is definitely my least favorite, but there is an ethereal beauty to the frozenness  of the stark color contrasts against the sapphire blue sky. My favorite season is Autumn with its explosion of flaming colors, but I always long for Spring. Maybe it is because of my lack of love for Winter, but there is something so refreshing about the cycle of new growth that bursts forth as Spring. And the promise of warmer sunnier days just over the horizon. One of our favorite movies of all time is Being There. In one part of the movie Chauncy the gardner is telling the President his theory about growth in the garden. The President and Mr. Rand assume he is talking symbolically not literally. Here is the dialogue from the movie.
“PRESIDENT: Do you agree with Ben, Mr. Gardiner? Are we finished? Or do you think we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives? CHANCE:  As long as the roots are not severed, all is well and all will be well in the garden. PRESIDENT:  ... In the garden? CHANCE: That is correct. In a garden, growth has its season. There is spring and summer, but there is also fall and winter. And then spring and summer again... PRESIDENT: ... Spring and summer... Yes, I see... Fall and winter.  Yes, indeed... Could you go through that one more time, please, Mr. Gardiner? RAND: I think what my most insightful friend is saying, Mr. President, is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, yet we are upset by the seasons of our economy. CHANCE: Yes. That is correct. PRESIDENT :...Well, Mr. Gardiner, I must admit, that is one of the most refreshing and optimistic statements I've heard in a very, very long time.”
I too welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, especially Spring. I decided I would go on a walk in the neighborhood this afternoon and see if I could find evidence of coming Spring. I was pleasantly surprised with my discoveries. Yes indeed Spring is on the way.

Our lilac bush is beginning to bud.


I’m not sure what this plant is that has started to peek through the barren soil.

The rose bush is sprouting new leaves.


More sprouts of green.
   

Even our grass is changing to the Spring green shade.



And then a burst of color! Pansies a sure sign of Spring.



Around the corner I came across these hyacinths. They smelled divine.

Daffodils always seem to be first to raise their heads in glory of Spring warmth.
 

But alas . . . the starkness of Winter is still present.
But I prefer to continue to search for Spring.

Spring Has Definitely Sprung

It is finally Spring here on the desert Plains of Texas. I know Spring officially starts in March and we had actually begun to see signs of Spring. My plum tree had already dropped it's blooms and was starting to grow tiny little plums, our Boxwoods looked great, the grass was looking brilliant. I just love the color of the new growth of leaves in the Spring, when everything is that fresh yellow-green, showing the wonder of new life. I even have pictures to prove that it was blooming into Spring that I took of the kids playing out in the front yard while they were visiting over Spring Break. Then the Panhandle weather did what it's most famous for - a complete 180 turn around and we had the freak blizzard of 2009. Read about it here scroll down past the Friday Family Photo for the blizzard story. So needless to say all the plants, trees, grass and bushes were in shock! We finally had to cut our Boxwoods way back, almost to the root, as they were almost dead. I do think we will end up having to replace a few of them, but most are starting to grown new leaves again. So finally I've started to notice that winter is finally over for good this season and the flowers are starting to bloom again. So I thought I'd take a little stroll through our neighborhood and take some pictures of the flowers I came upon. Actually I only walked two blocks. I'm sure I could have found many more varieties if I would have walked further. I know what most of them are, but not all. Please feel free to comment if you know what some of the flowers are. I especially love the little dainty red ones and would love to know what they are. I hope to do some planting in my own yard this weekend. Enjoy the show and thank God for the splendor of Spring.

These first few were actually from my yard. The first two are some yellow lilies growing in the backyard.

Honeysuckle from the driveway and it smells delicious. I wish I had "smell-i-vision" so you could enjoy them as well.



Blooms from the Caltapa trees. They smell sweet, but they really make a mess in the yard. We are always glad when they stop blooming.





Not sure what these lovely purple flowers are. They are from my neighbor's yard across the street. I like them though and wish they were growing in my yard.





Pansies are everywhere. I know they have all been planted or set out, but they sure do make the place look happy.



Not sure what these are. They kind of look like daffodils with spider shoots.





White Iris, we used to have lots of Iris, but they didn't survive the landscaping we did a few years ago. We still have two, but they never bloom.




These looked like some kind of daisy, but they were growing in the alleyway, so I'm not sure they are weeds, but they were sweet little flowers. I liked them.





Next I spotted a red rose bush with a ton of blooms. We have a pink rose bush blooming in our yard, but the blooms were not very pretty.




I have no idea what these were, but they were pretty.





A Spring wouldn't be complete without Marigolds. I remember as a child always planting Marigold seeds out by our playhouse. I learned something today, Marigolds are not their real name. Click on the link to find out.




I know for a fact this is a weed as I used to receive many a bouquet of these from my kindergarten students. They will definitely take over your yard. These were NOT in my yard, but in an alleyway.



I'm not sure if you can tell from the picture, but these are clover blooms. They were so tiny and sweet.




More unknown purple flowers. Any suggestions on what they are???




Red and white geraniums from my backyard. They are in a planter and I bought them at a nursery. I always put out lots of geraniums as they are hardy enough to withstand our crazy temperature ranges.




Another unknown. Have you noticed it's all the purple flowers I don't know the names of.





I really loved these dainty little red flowers, but have no idea what they are. If I knew the neighbors that had them growing I would ask. Maybe I'll get up my nerve and knock on the door and ask them anyway.

I really wish these were all growing in my yard. I would love to just sit out on the porch or patio and just enjoy their beauty.