Spring Pastels

Seasonal temperatures returned this past week, and we've had some much-needed rain, but the chilly temps are hard to take after almost 2 weeks of summery days during April. Today was a little warmer with temps in the low sixties (approximately 16ºC), but rain is falling again tonight and the chill is back.

The treasured hyacinths are finished blooming now and a lot of the daffodils have faded, but some are still holding up. The dry weather took its toll on the spring bulbs, shortening their bloom time.

Tulips are blooming now, and hopefully the rain will help them put on a good show.

Last week was a change of pace as I was helping out at my favorite plant nursery for a couple of days. Oh joy, what a treat to be back among the plants and fellow planters, smelling the petunias and talking gardens! I was also back to working at school after the week of Spring Break.

We had 2 hard frosts on Wednesday and Thursday night and here's what the Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra) looked like afterward. This is the first time I've seen them knocked down so brutally by freezing temps, and they're still bent to the ground. I'm truly hoping they'll recover and bloom as beautifully as they did last year.

But this post is about spring pastels, so no more talk of frost.....

Let's concentrate on the sunshine of the previous week.....

....and imagine the wonderful perfume of the hyacinths!

Delightful pinks.....

....and glorious blues!

Remember Max, the accident prone kitten? She's now a house cat, along with Jasmine, the cat who likes to think she's in charge. When we discovered that Max is a little lady we changed her name to Maxine...but somehow it just didn't fit, so now she's "Molly".

On a very sad note, our sweet little Kaspurr was run over in our driveway last week by the

truck bringing fertilizer. Alas, some of our cats are not very clever about moving when vehicles use the driveway. They think it's their own personal space, and seem to have no concept of the danger involved. It can be quite embarrassing to have to run out and chase them out of the way when people drive in and out. I'm sure the truck driver felt very sad about it. Although he didn't stop at the house to tell me about the accident, he did carry him over to the workshop out of the driveway.

Kaspurr was so named because he loved to be cuddled, and would purr with a very loud motor at the slightest encouragement. He is sadly missed.

This is called the Lilac Garden because there's an old lilac bush to the left which is not in the photo.

I can't resist posting a few more daffodil shots.

And here more hyacinths are tucked under the bright umbrella of the daffs.

The Iris are preparing to take over the show shortly.

Oh, who's that? Why it's our little buddy, Cirrel the Squirrel, who still shows up occasionally. Hi Cirrel! Are you enjoying the show?

I think he is :)

I certainly am!

Here are the pinks just before the end. We'll have to wait a whole year to see them again.

But now the tulips take over....

.....with still a few daffs to keep them company.

.....as well as the little grape hyacinths.

There are a couple of double daffs.....

......and the happy, smiling faces......

.......of the dear pansies.

A couple of long shots.....

....of the front yard.

And look who else is wearing their yellow coats! The American goldfinches have been serenading us with their sweet songs.

One of the first tulips to open her lovely cup-shaped flower. I've hardly seen them open because of all the clouds we've had this past week. Perhaps tomorrow afternoon they'll open in the sunshine that our weatherman has predicted.

My dear husband mowed the lawn today for the first time this year.....and the dandelions are beginning to pop up!

Since I missed wishing you a happy May Day, I'll wish you a happy Sunday instead, and a good week ahead.