Shadow and Hope. Time Machine.

In late summer, I start to dream of Autumn.

Then I look forward to the holidays.

Here in our part of the South, if we get any snow at all, it is likely to be in late January or February.

When we do it is pretty for a few days.

By this point in the winter, the snow is gone, my bones are cold, and I am looking forward to spring. 

Are you?

If so, grab a cup of something warm to drink (I have a lovely cup of PG Tips tea with milk), and step into my time machine.

 Antebellum with Azaleas

These are my favorite photos of Spring here at home.

All were taken in March but over several springs (2008 to 2013)

Bumble Bee in the Azaleas

 The warm colors are making me happy already.

 Spring time Fluff

Dandelions are one of the first flowers to pop up. I don't pull them Mother Nature seems to do a good job of keeping them in check. They always make me think of Fairy wands.

 Early Dogwood Blossoms

We have a dogwood tree in the front yard, it is beautiful year round.

When it is bare, it is graceful. The early blossoms with soft fuzzy leaf buds pop up, and then,,,,

Dogwood Blossoms and Gargoyles

The brick path leads to our door.  When I see it, I know I am home safe and loved (My Sweet Family put it in our first summer in the house).

 Elm with buds and Antebellum

Our back yard. You can also see the smoke house (closest to the house) and the summer kitchen (I always get them mixed up and labeled the smoke house incorrectly last week). This was taken with my back to the barn. Here the time machine really works, you can't see the power lines or street lamp. It looks much as it might have looked at any time in the last 180 or so years since it was built.

Forsythia and Summer Kitchen 

Is it possible to feel cold when you look at this one?

Forsythia Close-up 

Iris in Lavender

Two of my favorite flowers together. They were not planted that way, they both spread. My usual method of gardening involves planting things, then mostly leaving them alone. That works well in this climate.  

Iris Blossoms

The Iris and Daffodils were here before us. There are patches of both growing wild in the woods. Makes you wonder how many years ago they escaped. 

Mary in the Camellias

She looks much more comfortable here than in the last post.

Miniature Roses?

The blossoms are tiny, but profuse. 

Narcissus and Daffodils

There is a very short time when both are in bloom, some years they miss each other completely. Lucky for us, our time machine has paused at just the right moment. 

Narcissus

A lovely way to harvest sunshine to bring inside. 

Old Barn and Well-house

 I would love to walk outside to all this green! 

Vinca

Lovely little purple wildflower. 

Sedum Patch

Yellow Narcissus

Sunshine on a stem. 

Pink Blossoms in our woods 

 Elm Buds and Smokehouse 

Tiny Yellow Wildflower

I love the little heart shaped petals. 

Oak and Ivey

These have lived together a long time. They stand proudly in our front yard. 

Waiting

Anticipation! It really won't be long. According to that silly ground hog, only five more weeks (ground hogs day was 1 week ago, of course, he saw his shadow). 

Wild Bunny

I almost wish I had a lovely soft fur coat like hers while we wait for spring. 

My Mother used to tell me to enjoy NOW. When you wish for time to go by swiftly, you wish your life away. 

So I will confine myself to peaking out the door of the time machine, without actually leaving the time where I am. I do feel warmer, how about you?

Cheers, 

Kat

I must admit, if that silly groundhog lived near me, I would build a permanent shade over his home, so he would not see his shadow.

More reasons to love living in the south.

Winter here, is usually pretty mild.

We might get snow in January or February,

but it never lasts.

None so far this year.

What we do have right now is...

 Daffodils

My Sweet Husband found these blooming in the yard already.

Since we were expecting frost,

he brought them in for me.

Last year they bloomed in snow.

 Purple Pansies,

We planted pansies in the fall.

These always remind me of a song I learned in Sunday School.

The song was about "little purple pansies" being a drop of gladness.

They were my Mom's favorite flower.

Don't they just make you smile.

 Yellow Pansy

We have yellow pansies too.

They are quite hardy.

Our temperature got down around 20 degrees F the other night,

the pansies did not seem to mind.

Yellow and White Daffodil 

We also rehabilitated an old garden area in the front yard this fall.

I spent hours on my knees clearing the area.

Then I planted bulbs that had been uncovered by work in other areas of the yard.

There are only a few blooming so far,

but as you can see, well worth the effort.

I took this photo at twilight,

I love the way the late evening sun shines through it.

 New Garden Area

This is a view of the entire area.

I was not sure how well the bulbs would do as the tree in the center is a young oak.

Some plants will not grow under an oak.

 Mary in Camellias

We have three different types of Camellias.

Two are blooming right now.

I love the way this one seems to be blooming just for her.

 Large Camellia

 Smaller Camellia

This one is smaller and more like a rose.

One way to tell the difference,

Camellias have no perfume.

Another difference is in the plant and leaves.

These bushes are at least eight feet tall.

 Frost Bitten Camellia

We have not escaped winter,

Some camellias opened at the wrong time.

This one did not survive the cold.

 Frost Bitten Buds

Here are two of the smaller ones that did not make it.

 Camellia Buds Waiting to Open

Not to worry,

The bushes are still full of these.

Paper whites

Remember the Paper whites from the last post?

Here is a last view.

As you can see, the flowers are almost gone from this year.

We will plant them out in the new garden area out front with the daffodils.

Then we will have blooms again next year.

Hope your winter has plenty of bright moments so far,

and I hope your homes are as warm and happy

as mine is right now.

Cheers,

Kat