Happy Days!

Making my heart sing!

 A little Japanese maple from my friend Mary Lee made it through the awful drought and leaf-buds are breaking out.

 The first asparagus tip has broken through!

The late jonquils are celebrating their new location.

 Radishes and leaf lettuce under way in the asparagus bed.

 The crazy shrub with two colors of blooms is back at it.  I don't know a name other than 'loropetalum' for this. 

The redbud is just beginning its colorful show.

 And vinca lights up the shady spots!
 

Spring Pleasures

Weather here has turned chilly--or downright cold--and wet.  Gray skies persist.  Thunderstorms and hail yesterday...and the week is predicted to be blustery and stormy.  The rainfall, however, has been sparse, and our state is in moderate to severe drought, with high danger of wildfires and burn bans.  

Grape hyacinths....violet leaves nearby

 Views in the yard at present:

Loropetalum--one bush, two colors!

New growth on a climbing rose

Redbud blooms, leaves, close-up

Redbud.....new leaves emerging

Vinca.....violet, not purple!

Wisteria, starting to bloom

Yellow-flowered perennial....name?  Tsk.

Even with inclement weather, all of these blooms continue to cheer us up!

Spring

Though the nights are still cold, we are enjoying some warmer days.  Early flowering is always welcome.

Hyacinth

Faithful bulbs multiple without any special assistance.  







The bed is also full of violets.  Some of my friends regard these as weeds and actually pull them out.  I planted these on purpose.  Even the smallest bit of root will take hold and grow.  Violets are prolific self-seeders. 

White Violet

Not every plant is eager to risk a frosty morning.  (Our last frost date is April 7th--or so they say.)  This fig is not a believer, despite its protected location.

Fig branch tip, just beginning

Spring Beauties in the grass

Volunteer bloomers are everywhere.  These are a native wild-flower that we see every year:  Spring Beauties.  Tiny and prolific,  they literally carpet some of the sunny yards in town.  Notice the dainty pink lines on the petals and the pink stamen.

Today's surprise--a lovely 'flag' in the front yard, donated by a friend who disliked this plant's habit of spreading.  I am the go-to gardener for orphaned and abandoned plants.  I have no idea why similar plants like iris and flags are classed separately.  (My iris have not yet sent up bloom stalks.)  


Spring in Arkansas is lovely.