Fragrance Tour

Every now and then, spring makes an appearance this year!  Summer like temperatures are predicted for the coming week, following on the heels of two spring like days, following on the heels of freezing temperatures at night this past week!  Bi-polar weather is not uncommon, but this year we have been taken to extremes!  Raining again this morning!!

The plants in my yard are making the adjustment and bravely soldier on with their bloom.  This week was an explosion of all things fragrant.  

Variegated Daphne 

Honeysuckle, just a little out of control!

Wisteria

I'm hoping that if I get close enough with the camera, you will be able to catch a whiff!

Viburnum, aka snowball bush.  My grandma Berna loved snowball bushes!  Remember those Hostess cake snowballs?  This is what this bloom reminds me of!  Are those even available anymore?  They were pretty dreadful to eat, but nice to look at!

Here's a fragrance overload......lilac and viburnum together!

The lilac is especially nice this year for some reason.  It must like harsh winter treatment!

I am woefully behind in my yard and with my field work.  Two weeks ago Reynald was badly burned when we lit a brush pile.  Remember kids, fire does not mix with gasoline.  It's a more complex story than that, but in the interest of time, that's the short version.

He's doing really well now, having sustained second degree burns on both hands and over most of his right arm.  The pain has been intense but the last few days have shown marked improvement.  One of Reynalds many powers, is that he is a "good healer" and he has drawn on that power to make it through this trial.  His wounds heal more and more each day.  He's spent more time than he probably should, the last two days, directing Alicia and me around the farm!  He'll be back in the saddle again soon.

I have been squeezing in a little farm work here and there the last two weeks, between wound care.  I'm making progress with the field work, but my yard work has been put on the back burner.  Again, the plants don't seem to mind!  They are growing and thriving, despite the lack of pruning and fussing.  Might be a lesson in there some where?

A rose that is happily growing even if it isn't pruned of all the dead wood from winter.

The peonies are just beginning to burst in to bloom.  With the predicted 80 plus degree temps early next week, these guys will come and go in a hurry.

The candy tuft is fluorescent when it is blooming.  Baxter is searching for a mouse!

Another rose (there are several) that still needs to be pruned.  Again, it doesn't seem to mind in the least and the leopard's bane behind is giving us a great show.  

I can't remember the name of this succulent, but I was surprised to see that it made it through the winter.  This particular plant was covered with five feet of snow all season though, insulated from the cold.  It's certainly happy right now!

This little violet found just enough room to grow and bloom in a crack in the pavers.  It is saying to me, "even though it may be hard, you can find a way to bloom".  Good advice right now!