In the Spring...

There are a lot of beautiful sayings,

celebrating the joy of spring....

but,  my favorite is simple...

In the spring,

at the end of the day,

you should smell like dirt...

Margaret Atwood

the child in my heart delights in playing

in the dirt all day :-)

(click photo to enlarge)

I planted a small pot of Stocks by the back door,

I love the smell of stocks...

but they never grow well for me

so I only indulge a bit...

I mixed them with fragrant Nemesia,

in a little white painted basket...

(the Nemesia has a strong vanilla scent, Mmmm)...

I have been really into scent this week

and also picked up a couple Spanish Lavenders

 also for planters...

the blooms remind me of butterflies

so I added my butterfly stake to the planter...

the garden is exploding in color...

I learned when I posted the Lily of the Valley last week,

and compared it to my post from last year...

that they were blooming almost

a month late...

Now it seems the garden is playing catch up!

and everything is blooming at once...

the lady bugs are working hard...

the old watering cans are being kept busy too...

Do you remember the Lavender Poppies from last year?

If not you can see them here...

the little guys are just popping up all over the place....

if I mailed you seeds,

how are yours doing?

Deutzia and friend...

(see the tiny ant?)

the Snowballs are on the cusp of opening..

I love them at this stage best,

when the are still tinged with green...

I love the magical look of Allium in the garden

and don't have near enough...

this Allium Liliaceae

is another plant

I think is beautiful pre-bloom...

Columbine in the darkest purple...

the first Iris of the year,

made it inside to be enjoyed...

Today I am joining...

This Week in My Garden

Bloomin' Tuesday

Tuesday Garden Party

Outdoor Wednesday

Simple Pleasures Thursday

and

Cottage Flora Thursday

Thanks for strolling with me today....

now go get dirty :-)

One of My Favorite Things...

I buy a lot of different vases...

they are hard to pass by at garage sales,

they cost almost nothing,

and each holds the seed of a dream,

 of a new design...

and, sometimes a vase isn't a vase at all

but a chippy creamer or a simple old jar...

(click photos to enlarge)

but,

there is one vase that is dear to my heart,

one that I use each year...

It was given to me by my Mom...

a Fenton basket style vase,

in a Lily of the Valley pattern...

so... I look forward each year

 to filling my little glass basket...

with the perfect bell shaped blooms...

and well...

 a nosegay is always nice too :-)

In last years post about my bouquet,

I shared some facts and meanings

about these sweet spring blooms...

you can see that post here...

Tonight I am joining...

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Friday Pretties

Vintage Inspiration Friday

and

Photo Feature Friday

(because playing with the pics is half the fun:-)

Nice of you to stop by :-)

Around The Garden...

The good news is...

I am not gonna talk about the rain today!

Because we are having some beautiful weather :-)

Come on... we'll go look around,

the garden is lovin the sun as much as me!

(click photos to enlarge)

I picked up these fun galvanized flowers last fall...

they add a nice height to the Pansies...

while we are on the patio,

a chippy dish tucked in to a planter...

I love Jacob's Ladder

they smell just like grape juice...

another shorter variety of Jacob's Ladder...

these pretty double Lilacs are an almost,

in bloom....

as are the Roses...

anticipation!

the Weigela pond side is on the almost list too...

the Columbines are popping open everywhere!

I have let them be in charge of themselves

and they really are everywhere...

these are right at the base of the fence

in a tiny strip by the sidewalk...

they were so pretty,

 I just let them be...

more

 dancing in the sunlight...

I have a lot of varieties,

I have no idea how they have all gotten here..

but I think I like each better than the last!

I am hoping to photograph them all

 in a collection to share...

this plant must have snuck in,

in the pot of another plant...

it's proper name is Centaurea Montana...

but it has a whole lotta nick-names

Bachelor's Button, Blue Cornflower, or Mountain Bluet...

some one has shown up

 in a blue so pale it's almost white...

this little rabbit is all tucked away in the Garden Phlox...

all the beds are filling in so fast!

I am amazed each year how quickly this happens!

The Cherry tree is raining pink petals everywhere...

My little old man Twiggy

 took his fuzzy blanket out to sunbathe...

 and got one stuck on his nose,

he didn't seem to notice or care,

I am not sure which!

but he just sat there like this forever...

until I just had to get my camera and take a pic,

then I had to wipe it off:-)

Today I am joining...

Outdoor Wednesday

Simple Pleasures

Cottage Flora Thursday

and

Fridays Unfolded

Thanks for strolling with me today...