This has been a particularly bad allergy season in the east this year. The experts say that is because of earlier cold weather which has everything blooming at the same time. I'd have to agree with that. A few days ago, all of the fruit trees were finally blooming and I just turned around and many other things have joined. Below are some of the things I found today when I took a Second Look.
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| The dogwoods, while still pretty, are past their prime. I had been meaning to take a picture of them the last couple of days, but didn't make it. |
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| The lilacs are in full bloom now, enough so, that these blooms have bent down the branch. |
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| I got these Lily of the Valley from a friend last year and I thought they didn't survive the transplant, but here they are. What a pleasant surprise. |
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| While I'm still figuring out how to control this ground cover, Yellow Archangel, I am enjoying its blooms. |
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| This side corner of the house shows two colors of azaleas, two kinds of nandinas, and a light color of lilacs. A nice, out of the way bit of color./ |
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| Azaleas are also providing color in front of the house. |
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| A close up of the above blooms. When I was looking at the three different azaleas plants this afternoon, I was convinced that they had totally different forms of blooms on their branches and I was all excited about noticing this difference. Upon closer examination, they were more alike than they were different. The actual blooms were different colors and sizes, but those were all of the major differences I could see. You should have heard the story I had made up about them. |
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| A prolific bloomer that looks very similar to the azaleas above but just a little behind in timing. |
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| This one is the slowest to bloom. |
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| The wren has started laying eggs. I anticipate more that these. |
Allergy season has been terrible here too. I'm not generally that bothered by spring allergies - fall is my season, but this year has been different. I'm heavily medicated, but still suffering.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are lovely as usual. Azaleas are amazing - wish they grew here!
According to the allergist, I'm only allergic to cats. But my tingling, constantly sneezing nose and watery eyes beg to differ.
DeleteYour garden is looking lovely! What beautiful flowers!
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful time of year that everyone enjoys.
DeleteWOW! So much of blossoms. Azaleas looks very beautiful. It has amazing color. Close up shot looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful garden with colorful blossoms!
Some of the azaleas are totally covered with blossoms and are pretty amazing.
DeleteI am anticipating your level of blooms soon in our area! We have an ornamental plum tree in our front yard and it gets blooms for 3-4 days in the spring. I think we are on Day #3!
ReplyDeleteYour azalea pictures remind me of when we went to the Smoky Mountains a couple of years ago in June. They grow wild on the mountains (which I'm sure you already know, since you grew up in WV)and were in full blossom while we were there.
I have seen azaleas in the wild, but I've mostly seen mountain laurel and rhododendron, that are in the same family. In fact, I've spent hours trying to make my way through dense thickets of them while doing field work. But they are very pretty.
DeleteNow you have me curious about what kind of field work you were doing. I think you're right, some of what we saw were rhododendron--not sure about the mountain laurel. Anyway, I can't imagine trying to fight your way through them. They were taller than me and very thick.
DeleteI was doing geologic field mapping in WV and VA. Often the rhododendron were laced with thorny greenbrier which did not add to the fun.
DeleteYour azaleas are beautiful. I love vibrant color. We're still in and out of spring here but supposed to get some warm weather beginning today and lasting into next week. Even into the 80's two days, the rest of the week in the 70's. At least we're getting out of the 60's and things may start blooming to beat the band.
ReplyDeleteThe azaleas really do make a show with their color. I hope the warmer weather comes as predicted for you. We're having a few days of unseasonably hot weather now with temperatures in the high 80s. I'm happy to have a cool house to come into.
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