The daffodils are up, the forsythia is barely yellow as the new green leaves rush forward to embrace the warmer weather. My peach tree has several blooms and the battle begins anew. The deer and the frost have eaten or killed every chance I’ve had for three years to harvest my own peaches. Irish Spring sliced on the band saw now hangs in a piece of panty hose from a small branch. Deer don’t like Irish Spring. The photo here shows the size of one of the biggest on the property. HUGE deer.

Don’t get me wrong. I love deer. I love them on a plate with taters and gravy!

We’re beginning to have doubts about Charles’ apple tree. It’s tall, leggy and has very few leaves. It looks more like a giant stick than an apple tree. If you have any advice, feel free to share. Looks like I’l be doing some online research.

The flowering almond is spectacular this year. It’s never been this tall or so heavy with flowers. There are several small ones that now can be moved to a better location.

Did I tell you I rooted four and a half Confederate Roses? That fifth one has nubs where the roots should have grown. It’s in the ground with the others. It’s either been planted or buried; time will tell. You’ve heard the expression; “Bloom where you’re planted.” It’s hard to do when you feel more buried than planted. Here is a photo of what a Confederate Rose looks like.

Stunning!

The naked limbs of my dogwoods are standing ready to burst forth. It won’t be long now. I do love a dogwood in bloom.

The Eastern Bluebirds have been singing. To be honest, the male has been serenading his mate. We have two houses at the moment as well as the open-ended pipe that holds up my clothes line. Some kind of bird nested in it last year and it boggled my mind how an adult bird, even a small one, could raise a brood in a pipe. ~ Watching the male Bluebird flit across the yard and seeing the sunlight illuminate his feathers….it’s an electric blue. Absolutely stunning! Now, if I can figure out a way to get him to stop attacking his reflection in my car’s mirrors….ugh. There’s so much bird poop on my car, and my husband’s truck….we’ve put plastic bags over the mirrors and it helped. We have ordered some realistic rubber snakes to place on the vehicles and I’m crossing my fingers. The poop has to stop. 🙁

My iris and daylilies survived their upheaval last Summer. My husband dumped a load of dirt for me to use as a “holding pen” and by placing a soaker hose criss-cross through the haphazard pile, everything was kept watered. A new deck now stands where my flowers used to be. My clematis vine is sketchy. I have seen it spectacular. Last year, not so much. It developed some kind of spots and I had to cut it back to the ground and let it start over. There is new growth and a new trellis waiting; so, we will see how it goes.

Seeds and more seeds. I always WANT to plant them, but the challenge is constantly the same: how to keep the new plants watered?

Remind me to tell you about the mouse problem. The solution was a total surprise. Until next time, be blessed.