Finally .... Blueberries!

It looks like it's going to be our best year yet for blueberries! My husband and I got four plants for our fourth wedding anniversary, and since we're now in our 11th year of marriage, that makes these plants 7 years old in our garden. Of course they must have been two to three years old when we bought them, so I'd guess they're actually nine or 10 year plants.

Needless to say, blueberries are a long-term commitment.

The first few years we got a few flowers and some tiny blue beauties. Despite the best efforts of the starving winter bunnies, the bushes have thrived and finally look less scraggly. We've enjoyed them all along the way, though. Our varieties (one I can remember is a Patriot) turn a gorgeous red in the fall and we enjoy the color.

This is the year, though, when I think we'll finally actually have to thoroughly pick the bushes and the berries will make it into the house rather than being eaten before you cross the yard! I'm hoping that the birds do not get to them ... but we will watch carefully to see if we need some netting. Fingers crossed for a blueberry festival right here in our own backyard!

What Is This?

Here's a mystery for you ---- any idea what this flowering tree/bush is?

We have two of these bushes along the side of our house and each spring they bloom and give off the most lovely aroma. I suppose that there is no reason to really worry or wonder about what it's name is, but I love it enough to want to know more about it.

I did try a Google image search on it, but it turns out that there are many, many aromatic flowering tree/bushes. So .... I'm appealing to my neighbors. Does anyone have one of these?

Spring Flowers

Last weekend, we took a hike in the woods and the strength of the sun restored my faith in spring. It's been pretty cold through April and I am eager for T-shirt weather. 

The walk did my heart good. The leaf buds are just starting to appear, and the bare branches give you a great view of the birds.

The spring wildflowers steal the show. They're delicate and easy to miss, but once you take notice you'll see that they are profuse and truly lovely. Here are some bloodroot and a trillium. Small, shy flowers with startlingly white petals. Their show stages through may, then they leave their leaves to carpet the ground for the rest of the summer. Take your bow, gentle ladies.

Spring Sprung

Spring arrives in fits and starts. Last weekend's Easter Sunday hit 65 sunny degrees. This Sunday's forecast is for 28 degrees with colder windchills. Still, the crocuses tell me that spring is undoubtedly here.