Could it Be? Spring???

As I am sitting here with a window open I am hopeful that spring has finally arrived! I was out looking around this weekend, and I am more hopeful than I was a couple of weeks ago. I think we will have lilac blooms here, I don't think the buds were out far enough to freeze, the new leaves were frozen of course but they all seem to be putting out new green leaves. All the spring bulbs are done for the year , except possibly for some late tulips. It looks as if some of the bluebells will bloom as well.

Friday the 13th

Since there is not much to take pictures of in my garden right now except depressing frozen foliage I thought I would share a couple of bug pictures, I like to take bug and butterfly pictures. These were taken last fall the grasshopper and the bee were both on my Autumn Joy Sedum or Live Forever as some people call it.

Our grandsons are going to be with us this weekend so I hope it is nice enough for some adventure walks or at least to get outside.

Is this really April?

We did not get the predicated 8 inches of heavy wet snow but we did get enough. This morning when I went to work I noticed the snow stuck to the north side of the trees, there is an old time saying about the last snow of the spring always sticks to the north side of the tree, maybe someone else remembers it? On my drive to work today it was beautiful and I wish I could have spent the morning walking in the woods and taking pictures but my boss actually expects me to show up...............the nerve. :) I doubt the robins thought it was beautiful.

This picture was taken last week on a small lake close to our house, I can't remember what kind of ducks my husband said they were, he is the one that knows all the various kinds of ducks that migrate through our area each spring and fall. I enjoy seeing all the different kinds that stop on their trip back north, there was also a large flock of some kind of gulls, you wouldn't think you would see gulls in Iowa, would you? Two years we have seen swans, that was a thrill for me.

April Snowstorms, Mother Nature and the Easter Bunny

Mother Nature likes to throw us a curve every now and then, doesn't she? We are currently under a winter storm warning with up to 8 inches of heavy wet snow expected. What a kick in the pants. I would take some pictures of my garden, but I don't think anyone wants to see piles of green mush, I wonder if all the perennials that were up and are now frozen will come back this year, will they bloom? I guess we will all find out.

The Easter Bunny visited us this past weekend, she brought Quasi and Erin each a yellow squeaky toy, Callie Cat and Jon Pickles were left cat nip mice, that is Easter Bunny is quite alright :).

Pretty Purple Lilacs

Nothing like old fashioned lilacs for fragrance, have I mentioned I love to garden for fragrance??

Violas and Easter

I love these little violas, every Easter I take several half egg shells, the dark brown ones and plant violas in the half shell and make a center piece with a little fake green moss or grass for Easter, I did not get out to buy any violas this weekend, I need to hurry to get this project done for Easter this year. After they have been in the house for a week or so, I stick the plant in the ground egg shell and all.

Deep Purple