Wednesday 15 April 2015

Beauty is.....Spring blooms and a large round bale of hay


Close up of one of the Camellia flowers, they don't tend to do well in our soil so we have a couple of ericaceous beds and after a few years are seeing the lovely evergreen bushes and blooms develop.

Good morning Peeps, no card today, just a few photos from the gardens which I have have the chance to enjoy this morning whilst I recuperate from my op on Monday. The beauty of two acres is that you can have several of the same shrubs but they don't necessarily all come into bloom together. It's early days but I think late frosts avoided it's going to be an abundant year for shrubs like Ceanothus, Lilacs and Escallonias as they are literally bursting with buds, but with this lovely weather there are some already well into bloom.

Viburnum Tinus 'Eve Price', the blossoms have a beautiful scent and this one is perfectly placed alongside one of the raised decked seating areas.

Clematis Armandii also has a wonderful aroma and climbs freely, this one has taken itself the full length of a pergola with the Albertine Rose and is now entwined into an apple tree..............note the blue sky in the background today, what a treat.

Part of the Japonica family Sophora Micropylla 'Hilsop' has masses of bell like yellow flowers which hang in clusters like this one.

Another of the above shrubs, planted more recently so the blooms are not as prolific yet but in time will be as lovely.

One of the Forsythia bushes which flower flower freely, this one is not a particularly good specimen this year although those it in the top paddock hedgerow are far more prolific.

A bee making the most of the pollen of the Mahonia 'Aquifolium'

Kerria Pleniflora, another shrub of which we have several, they are very slow growing shrubs but as they mature give a lovely show of yellow pom pom blooms.

Violets with a special meaning, I dug a few roots up in a hedgerow when I was about eight and planted them in my Dad's garden, when we moved to our current house about thirty two years ago I transplanted some and over the years they have multiplied and there are patches in several of the shrub beds growing happily in the undergrowth.

Spiraea ‘Snowmound'.....I think..... we have several Spireas which looks very similar and I seem to have lost track which are which.

Skimma Japonica'Rubell', another that lives happily in one of the ericaceous beds.

And finally a photos of the boys who are always happy campers with their jumbo hay bale although this one which only went into them on Sunday already looks pretty deflated. They are enjoying being outside, especially Heskey (foreground) who hates long winter spells in his stable.

Thanks for taking a peek and hope you all have some of this glorious sunshine. I will be back to my blogging rounds in a day or two when I feel a little better.


45 comments:

Bad Kitty said...

love your photos
very nice photo of bee
and your boys are very pretty
have a nice day :)

Sarah said...

Only a couple of days ago I thought it was about time you shared your lovely garden with us and lo and behold...here it is in all it's glory. We share a few of the same hardier types as we are atop a hill and the garden takes quite a hammering so spiraea, escallonia and viburnum are firm favourites as they fare very well. Mum and Dad had a splendid example of yellow pom poms that I remember as a girl!! Glad to see your boys are in scruff mode at the moment too. Surprise looks a fright!! Still as the saying goes " no horse looks it's best at primrose time"!! Enjoy your recuperation xx

Pamellia said...

Gorgeous Brenda! I'm suddenly craving a strawberry daiquiri! lol, hugs :)

Rainey's Craft Room said...

wow some beautiful pictures there of your fabulous plants Brenda, our few little shrubs are a bit behind, our garden is quite shady. I hope you are recuperating well and wish you a speedy recovery. This beautiful weather is sure to help you along the way.
Take care,
Lorraine

Robin said...

These are so very beautiful! I love the horses!!! Hugs, Robin

Stamping Bubbles said...

Lovely to see your garden Brenda. I love camillas and I am very lucky that they grow so well in my card. I have a beautiful one with single, pink flowers which begins to flower around Christmas day and is still flowering today. If we have a frost the flowers do die off but given a little sunshine out come the flowers again.
I hope you are on the mend after your op.
Take care
Lesley

Michelle J M said...

Such beautiful photographs Brenda, the camellia is perfect. (Had to look up the meaning of ericaceous!) Hope you are feeling better Brenda, look after yourself. Michelle x

Pat said...

Beautiful photo's Brenda, lovely one of the horses and their hay. Hope you are soon feeling better and I am sure the lovely weather with you will help, unfortunately we have clouds and rain today!

Pat xx

Unknown said...

Hallo liebe Brenda,
bei dir im Garten blüht und grünt es ja schon mächtig,einfach traumhaft schöne Bilder zeigst du uns,Danke dafür,
glg ulrike

Marianne said...

Beautiful pictures of gorgeous flowers. Love to see the horses enjoying a bale of hay. Have a wonderful day Brenda!!

KT Fit Kitty said...

Wow, you certainly have a beautiful garden! Thank you for sharing your lovely flowers and shrubs with us. Hope you recover fully from your procedure. Will say a prayer for you.

Kathleen said...

Gorgeous blooms and how lovely your garden must be and how lucky you are to have a gorgeous day, ours is overcast and we have had rain but fingers crossed it could be brightening up a tad now.
Glad all appears to have gone well and hope you are fully recovered soon.

Kath x

Kathleen said...

Gorgeous blooms and how lovely your garden must be and how lucky you are to have a gorgeous day, ours is overcast and we have had rain but fingers crossed it could be brightening up a tad now.
Glad all appears to have gone well and hope you are fully recovered soon.

Kath x

walchowDesign said...

Thank you for sharing all the glorious flowers - they are all so beautiful, Brenda! Enjoy the weather and hope all is well with you!

Jane said...

I'm so glad you are back home and getting over your surgery Brenda. What beautiful surroundings you live in...they must really help with your recouporation. Take it easy, enjoy the sunshine and get well soon. Hugs xx

Joan said...

oh wow Brenda, what fabulous photos. Your plants are well in advance of ours although my camellia and star magnolia are in full bloom and looking gorgeous. We have very acid soil so ericaceous plants grow well in my very small garden, two acres ? how lucky are you ! Hope all went well with your operation, get well soon

Joanx

Joan said...

oh and I forgot to say we have had really cold weather again, sun has just appeared for a few minutes at 4.30pm

Joanx

Jacee said...

What glorious photos Brenda, you must have a beautiful garden!
hugs Jacee
Simply Paper Card Design

scrappymo! said...

Gorgeous blooms and gorgeous creatures!

This was such a treat to see your shrubs and flowers...your blooms are much advanced over ours...as we do not have our new gardens planted yet! We have had a few trips to the nursery,but need quite a few more to track down certain species that we like. DH needs to start digging the soil and building some raised beds as the soil here is very clay like and contains a lot of the builders rubble!

Hope you are doing well, Brenda. Take it easy and enjoy your gardens and rest. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Crafty hugs
Maureen

KandA said...

Hi Brenda, glad to hear you're recovering from the op and hopefully back to fighting fit again very soon.

Gorgous photos of your garden. It's been a lovely sunny and warm day here too xx

Craftyfield said...

Hope that you recover promptly, Brenda. Your garden looks lovely in the sunshine, I bet it will inspire some creations later...

coldwaters2 said...

Oh Brenda it has been such a pleasure to visit your garden, if only in pictures, the blooms look so beautiful and colourful, I didn't know you had horses, they are absolutely gorgeous, thank you for sharing I hope that you are recovering well
hugs
lorraine x

ALI said...

Lovely photo's Brenda, glad to hear you are recovering after your op.

susiestacey said...

beautiful photos Brenda, you have some lovely shrubs and l bet the Mahonia is smelling delightful. Wish l had 2 acres....you would never see me inside. Horrid freezing cold here today with grey sky. Hope the op went well x Susan x

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Today post is really full of beaty! How many gorgous flowers! Love all your plants, they give me a fab feel of sping!

rachel said...

so good to see a post from you Brenda and hear that you're enjoying the weather! Your photos are amazing - the flowers are all stunning - I especially love the hilsop bells - stunning - the horses look pretty happy too! Big hugs rachel x

Judith said...

beautiful photos Brenda - your garden must be glorious and wonderful sunshine too! not like that here I'm afraid - just dull and chilly : (
Wishing you a speedy recovery hugs Judith x

Sally H said...

Gorgeous photos, Brenda! Our skimmia japonica and viburnum are both out and making the front garden smell wonderful too. Hope the good weather continues and you manage to spend some more time in the garden. I am back to work tomorrow :( I do intend doing some gardening with the children though

Rhonda Miller said...

Thank you for sharing these pics. Those flowers are gorgeous. I especially like the first one.

aussie aNNie said...

BEAUTIFUL Spring colours, lovely...hope you are getting better every day...thinking of you lovely lady.xxx{aNNie My Personal Blog}

mamawcindy said...

Loved seeing your Pictures especially your horses. Makes me sad. Our 32 year old Belgian Dolly, went down a few weeks ago and we tried to get her up and the vet tried to get her up. She just didn't have the strength. So we had to put her to sleep. Broke our Hearts. Everyone around Loved her. She was usually only pinned up at night. She roamed free most of the time. Always stayed on our property. Miss her so much. Thanks for Sharing your pictures.

Jackie said...

Wishing you a speedy recovery...hugs

What a wonderful selection of photographs Brenda. The Camellia is just perfect, and the horses are wonderful :o)
Jackie xx

Gerrina said...

Love to little peek into your garden! Our Viberium is not quite that far, but give it a week and we will have a beautiful smelling garden... Today is colder as yesterday, so we have been doing some hard work in it by removing verry thick branches and making them small... My hands are saw, but going to give it a try later on to stamp something... Hope you are enjoying the colourfull week! Hugs, Gerrina

Wendy L said...

Your pics are lovely Brenda, I love seeing spring flowers and blooms on peoples blogs.
Hope you are recovering well. xxxx

Cazzy said...

Gorgeous blooms and photos, and I love the horses too. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Carol x

Kitten Kraftz said...

What a beautiful garden Brenda! Lovely pictures and I like the one called Hilsop, have never seen it before. Hope all these flowers help speed your recovery :)
Pearl x

Helen said...

Hope you are making a speedy and full recovery. The flowers look gorgeous, how lovely to see them. Take care. xx

Merry said...

Beautiful, beautiful photos. Great shot of the bee...looks like he is having a feast. Your horses are wonderful. Thanks for sharing all this amazing colour. You must have discovered your green thumb young...eight and planting cuttings.

Lau W said...

Oh superb garden wonderful flowers ! Ahd the horses are beautiful !
Hope you feel better my dear friend !
xxx

Mervi said...

Beautiful flowers and fab horses;-))m

Karen Petitt said...

Beautiful flowers and you have horses too! They are gorgeous and right up my street - lovely beasties Karen x

Jaya Raghuvanshi said...

I so wish I was at a place like yours! Just so gorgeous!

Gail said...

Thanks for sharing your pictures!
We don't even have leaves on the trees yet!
Supposed to be warm all week so maybe that will help!
Hope you're well!

Desire Fourie said...

Brenda, I did not realise you had another op, so sorry - putting myself in the naughty corners. Just adore your beautiful photos of nature at its best and those two boys sure look very content. Wishing a speedy recovery xxx
Healing Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Thanks for sharing some of your world B. curiously the horses are my fav. I must confess, in spite of being a flower lover.. Shaz in Oz.x