Friday, April 30, 2010

April's Beauty - A host of Golden Daffodils!

April has flown by with such a mixture of weather! But that's spring in upstate NY.
She teased us with gloriously warm days for the first week or so, and then pushed us back to winter, with cold winds and even a little snow now and then to remind us that we are at the mercy of her whims.
There were a some mild, sunny days thrown in here and there, but this last week she's brought us winds straight from the Arctic and even a little snow.
Finally today she finished the month with a flourish - abundant sunshine and highs in the low 70's (approx. 22ÂșC) - wonderful!

I don't think I've ever enjoyed the spring garden more!


The daffodils have been pure delight.


Picture taken April 5th
The afternoon light is glorious!

April 19th


Hyacinths have joined the show. Posted by Picasa


And grape hyacinths/muscari are now adding their beautiful blue.


April 19th
The grass and hills are green and the trees are leafing out.


April 29th
The lawn has just had its second mowing.


Gorgeous blues and yellows! Posted by Picasa


Pink, white, and purple hyacinths,


and even a yellow one tucked back behind the poppies.


 Back on April 13th the Driveway Garden was bursting with daffodils.




And the Lilac Garden added those pretty whites to the mix. Posted by Picasa


Hannah is always exploring, chasing little critters and bugs.


  
A few days ago she cornered a vole, which was smartly dispatched - one less to eat my bulbs. They don't like daffodils and hyacinths, but they will eat tulips and crocuses, among other things.


I've never seen her sister, Molly, catch anything. She's very mild mannered and wouldn't hurt a fly. Well, maybe....I'll have to watch and see :)


The lovely blue Scilla/Siberian Squill are finished now. Posted by Picasa


I'm always sad to see their bright blue flowers fade away. They lasted about 3 weeks.


The cooler weather and some rain have prolonged the life of the daffodil blooms.


April 21st


We've enjoyed their sunny yellow faces for the entire month. Posted by Picasa


The first tulips opened about the 18th,


....Just as the first daffodils were finishing.




Three days later the Blue Heron Tulips opened their pretty fringed petals. Posted by Picasa


Now there are tulips galore adding their glorious colors, but I'll save those photos for the next post.


Murphy enjoying a bath in the late afternoon sunshine.


The daffodils always bring the following poem to mind, and consequently, my father, as this was one of his favorites. It's become a tradition for me to add it to a post full of golden daffodils.
I'm also reminded of my mother because she loved these flowers so much. My brother and I would bring her bouquets of them during springtime in Australia.


 
I  Wandered Lonely As A Cloud


I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.


Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.


The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee;
A poet could not but be gay
In such a jocund company!
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought


For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.


William Wordsworth

Posted by Picasa

Friday, April 16, 2010

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - April 2010

April brings an abundance of yellow to our spring garden when the daffodils bloom with gay abandon.


One of the most glorious sights of springtime in our garden is daffodils backlit by the afternoon sunlight.


It's breathtaking!


My dear husband planted this Forsythia at least 6 years ago and this is the first year we've seen it actually bloom with more than a handful of blossoms. It's certainly not overdressed, especially compared to some I've seen, but we're excited just to have branches bearing blossoms! Posted by Picasa


The little clump of Chionadoxa glows in the Rock Garden down by the road.


Glory-of-the-Snow is an easier name to remember it by.


The Lilac Garden is overflowering with daffodils.


With Scilla Siberica/Siberian Squill adding its beautiful blue.


It spreads easily and even shows up in the lawn. This little beauty can sew itself wherever it pleases. The more the merrier! Posted by Picasa


A paler version, but no less beautiful, is the Puschkinia/Striped Squill.


The little white petals have a blue stripe running through them.


I'm thrilled to see these pansies made it through the winter.


Arabis/Rockcress has just begun to bloom. It makes a pretty white carpet at the feet of the bleeding hearts which are growing rapidly and will begin blooming soon. Posted by Picasa


Last summer our niece gave me several plants from the old and well established garden that surrounds the house she and her husband recently moved into. Hubby and I made a place for them on the north side of the house where the new plants receive morning sun and afternoon shade.


Sanguinaria canadensis/Bloodroot is the first to bloom and I'm so excited to see it! The little flower is so pretty and I'm fascinated by the way the leaves curl around the stem.


Pretty Primroses are another new addition from Paula's garden.


Another white beauty is Oxalis blooming inside the house. The pink Abutilon is laden with blooms and Vancouver Centennial Geranium has also come through the winter very well and has lots of blooms.


Over by the vegetable garden the patch of long ago discarded daff bulbs never fails to make a cheerful display. Posted by Picasa


Grape Hyacinths are blooming next to the lovely pink Hyacinth and more daffodils
in the Rose-Clematis Garden, and the first tulips are about to pop open.


More Hyacinths are blooming beside daffodils in the Top Driveway Garden.


I love these pretty pastels. Posted by Picasa


And their  heavenly scent.


Daffodils everywhere!


Including a few old fashioned doubles.


The ever curious Hannah is my constant companion. Posted by Picasa


She likes to hide in the daffodils and watch the world go by.

Be sure to visit Carol of May Dreams Gardens to see what's blooming in other gardens here, there and everywhere on this mid-April Bloom Day.

Happy gardening everyone!