Garden Bloggers Bloom Day ~ May



~ Lilacs in Canada ~

View Other Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day For May

Each month on the 15th I have started joining in the meme group "Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day". Enjoy a few photos showing the progress of my garden for the month of May! Things are finally greening up, buds bursting, fragrance lingering and the sun is peaking out a little bit more each day.

I think I mentioned last month this lilac tree originates from a cutting from my husbands Grandmother's tree. It is about 5 years old in my garden but the original shrub would be over 50 years old. I love the fact this tree carries our own families past. Ontario has mapped "notable" Ontario Heritage Trees which I also found interesting. Who'd have thought to map that!

Muscari, little grape shaped mini hyacinths that pop with such colour for a little plant! My only complaint is they do not stay long enough.

An over done garden bulb that still manages to bring such colour to almost every house. My tulip varieties are in desperate need to be dug up, separated and given a good dose of bone meal.

My absolute favourite flowering tree. We have had a Kwanzan; Flower Japanese Cherry at every house we have owned. Like most flowering trees they only live about 10 years. This one had a mate that died a few years ago. Unfortunately this one has lost over half and it a bit of an odd shape now but I just can't bare to cut it down.

Hosta Fever. Just beginning to uncurl. This year our hostas are so abundant we are going to divide them and trade a few for new perennials at the garden centre. Always exciting to trade and be able to add new varieties each year.

Birch tree information

Blue Violet Information

Like clockwork on my birthday our Magnolia bursts open!

And last, a great new garden art, rock bug that was a gift from my daughter for my birthday this year. A few years ago she also gave me the little lantern in the background. I guess I brought my children up right; they know the way to my heart!

See you next month on the 15th of June!

Waves Of Oceans Crash and Roar

Waves of sound bounce in echoes…

Repetitive, soothing,

Filling the void of loneliness,

Placing the spirit in touch with…

Other people…Other places…Other times

 

Waves of light create sight…

Recognition and appreciation

Of surroundings comforts the

Troubled heart with the salves of

Beauty and sunlight’s warmth

Waves of oceans crash and roar…

Ebbs and flows of inspirational rhythm

Filling each observer with…

The sights and sounds

Of the human soul’s rebirth

~ M.E. Gaines

View more Watery Wednesday participants posts.

First of the Month

MAY
The First of the Month Meme

"I have always preferred the reflection of the life to life itself."

~ Francois Truffaut

This month the lighthouse angle is slightly different. Overall I am not that pleased with these shots but I do love the reflection of the sign in the puddle. For a bit of added fun, here is a close up of the lighthouse as an alternative photograph.

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"The goal is to capture one thing repeatedly on the first of each month.  It can be a landscape, a person, an animal, a project; whatever your focus is.  It can even be a record of where you are each First of the Month.

Linky opens each month on the 1st, and remains open for a week"

View All My "First of the Month" Lighthouse Photographs

Focus52: April Showers

I have whined and complained all winter about needing to see sunshine! Why is it then this week I kept looking outside in anticipation of rain? Just can't keep me happy!

This weeks Focus52 prompt was "April Showers" and my skies were looking mighty blue this past week. Today, finally rain graced my garden! I had the perfect opportunity to capture raindrops dripping off my flowers.

Sometimes overcast skies mixed with a light rain can give the most interesting colours in a garden.

Visit Focus52 Week and see other's interpretations of "April Showers".

OK Mother Nature, you can bring back my sunshine now!

Focus52: Easter Week 16

EASTER PAST

A blast to the past! These eggs were created by the girls over 15 years ago. We were instructed to not blow out the egg contents - just to allow them to dry out over time. If you gently shake them now, you can hear the hard, nugget dried out centre. I keep envisioning them breaking now and worry about the smell they might create! Needless to say I handle them with much care when they are brought out each year. Making Ukrainian Easter Eggs is so much fun - learn how at http://www.learnpysanky.com/

EASTER PRESENT

Easter is about family; here that includes Kodee and Becky! This is a silly moment (an often occurrence in this house)  that comes after baking and decorating 36 Easter cupcakes. They told me cupcakes taste best when baked with a martini...

EASTER FUTURE

This holiday weekend included Earth Day on Good Friday. In celebration we hiked to the Second Wildlife Marsh. I loved this breathtaking view - it reminds me the future is open to any number of possibilities.

Visit more Focus52 April 16-23 Easter Photos

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: April 2011

Yes! Winter has left! I can't tell you how happy I was to see the flowers begin to poke out of the ground in my flower beds!

The rain is even a welcomed change. These tulips will be multi-coloured!

This is an old Azalea (Rhododendron) shrub. I am very happy with it so far this season. It is often a hit and miss with this shrub as it is not very consistent year to year.

Question this April is; will the yellow crocuses survive Becky trampling in addition to what the rabbit hasn't eaten! I will let you know in May

View More April Gardens At:

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Critters in the City

Like most backyards ours has come alive with animals and the warmer spring weather. What a treat after the long, gloomy Ontario cold winter!

This female cardinal was busy building her nest and fluttering about very quickly. She made my task to capture her on camera very difficult.

The Cardinals weren't the only one building a nest! This guy did try to build a nest above my patio door. Not a great spot considering the dogs use that door 100x a day. You can read about what Kodee thought of that in her story "Why Does Spring Mean Home Invaders"

This guy almost got caught tonight. We had just come back from our walk and I let Kodee and Becky loose in the yard. There he was not 5 feet from them. Can we say sheer chaos. Becky is fast, way too fast. If I were that bunny I'd think about not entering this yard again - it was close!

Visit more Critter participants for this week at:

Focus52: Prompt "Hope"

Even though our world sometimes crashes about us, hope is not far off in the distance.

"Hope" just bursts from children at play.

Visit:

Focus52: Prompt "Hope" Week 15