Happy Tuesday, dear friends. I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Easter. After church, RM and I were joined at our home by our son, daughter-in-love, and our four precious grandchildren for an Easter lunch. We certainly missed my sweet Daddy. I know he celebrated the best Easter ever in the presence of our Risen Lord!
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 (ESV)
Gardening season is in full swing. Zinnias and sunflower seeds are in the ground, most of the weeding has been accomplished, and pots are being filled with annuals.
I am a couple of weeks late posting our favorite early spring blooms. These late March and early April blooms didn’t get nipped by frost, even though we had a couple of late, light frosts. I think they may have had their best season!
The Snowball Viburnum produced large blooms once again. Originally we planted two snowballs around seventeen years ago. Both had provided beautiful large and showy blooms. But, in 2023, one became unhealthy and by summer’s end had to be removed.
Many people mistake Snowball Viburnum for hydrangeas. These blooms start out lime green and then open to pristine white.
Not only does the Snowball Viburnum make a splendid garden shrub, but it is also a gorgeous cut flower as you can see in a recent post!
We can no longer call the viburnum a shrub, but at twenty or so feet, it is a tree! It stands by our driveway on the opposite side of our house. Just below the Snowball is a Bridal Wreath Spirea and a raised flower bed where we plant zinnias and sunflowers.
As you can see, the blooms are large, about eight to ten inches in diameter, and do resemble snowballs!
Many gardeners consider the Lady Banks climbing rose the quintessential cottage garden flower! I might agree.
The Lady Banks Rose blooms in early spring. Its buttery yellow double flowers are held in clusters and displayed on thornless slender branches.
Some of you may remember that our very old arbor with a huge Lady Banks Rose was blown down during a storm in October of 2020. The clean-up was a major chore for our Head Gardener!
My Renaissance Man decided to expand the garden in 2022 and to include a new entrance and arbor. Lady Banks Roses were planted in 2023.
Even though Lady Banks only bloom once per year, it more than makes up by its magnificent arching canes and small clusters of flowers!
“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.”
~William Shakespeare
I love the old-fashioned Bridal Wreath Spirea for its graceful arching branches!
The pure white flowers can be fashioned into wreaths and worn on the head, thence the name. I was sharing with EK (our six year old granddaughter) about the Bridal Wreath and she said that when she got married that she wanted to wear a flower wreath from our spirea. I explained she would have to marry at the right time, and even then, there might be a chance of a late frost. Of course there are a few other things that would have to happen for this to work out, but no need to address those at this point with a determined little dreamer!
I still lay claims on the Kwanzan Cherry tree even though it is now on our son’s property. He gave me permission to cut as many blossoms as my heart desired(lol).
The cherry tree’s ruffled double pink blossoms are some of my favorite blooms!
“I’ve seen spring come to the orchard every year as far back as I can remember and I’ve never grown tired of it. Oh, the wonder of it! The outrageous beauty! God didn’t have to give us cherry blossoms you know. He didn’t have to make apple trees and peach trees burst into flower and fragrance. But God loves to splurge. He gives us all this magnificence and then, if that isn’t enough, he provides fruit from such extravagance.”
~Lynn Austin
When we built our home forty-six years ago, two of my dear Mother’s friends gifted us a Kwanzan Cherry tree. RM planted it in our front yard and he did his best to keep it growing. But it didn’t survive. We can only imagine how large and beautiful it would be if it had lived!
This floral arrangement contains all four of my featured spring blooms!
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled week!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
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A beautiful.post for Earth Day, Pam! each of those specimens are such beautiful, showy plants, great for the earliest of bloom rewards. i have none of them! My garden was a little slower than last year for waking up, but while the blooming lilac held the spotlight for the past couple weeks, my peony, salvia, bottle brush, and wegeila showed its first blooms yesterday after a nice rain, and my iris and poppies are about the bloom. I’m nurturing the area where the tree as removed 4 yrs ago, having just amended the soil and reseeded. This is my favorite season, with your fall my second favorite. thank you for sharing your garden. I love seeing its stages, all.
Thank you, Rita. I somehow missed the Earth Day memo. I have read very little lately. I can just imagine the blooming lilac and its fragrance. Spring is my second favorite season and my peonies are full of buds! Wishing you a wonderful week and happy gardening!
Those flowers are just gorgeous! Your garden is amazing. I love the snowballs, and those climbing roses are so pretty. I’ll bet the fragrance is wonderful. Do I see some forsythia in one of the photos as well? I love those and keep saying I want to plant some.
Thank you, Carole. No forsythia in our garden, however, I do love it!
The perfect Earth day post, Pam. Your blooms dazzle and I can only imagine how amazingly fragrant they are! What a multisensory experience to walk through your garden. I love it!
Thank you, Jeanie. Gardening is definitely in full swing here. Wishing you a lovely spring week!
Good Morning Pam. I would be happy to walk around your property and gaze at your beautiful gardens! Your Snowball tree is magnificent. 20 feet high! Wow!
I am so happy to see your Lady Banks growing once again. They came back so beautifully. Our neighbor behind us has Lady Banks, and they used to cascade over our wall. But their new landscaper trims them every year now, and we can hardly see them. But I sure do love seeing yours! I also enjoyed seeing your bouquet of Spring Flowers at the end. Gorgeous! Happy Tuesday and Happy Earth Day!
Thank you, Nancy. We were going to buy annuals to plant, but it is raining today which we desperately needed. Wishing you a lovely week, my friend!
Ohhhh your beautiful garden. Everything is gorgeous. Glad you had a wonderful Easter with your sweet family. I know you were missing your dad but like you said he had a wonderful Easter in heaven. Have a great new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you, Kris. Wishing you a joy-filled week!
Your early blooms are magnificent! I know Easter was a little sad perhaps since your Daddy wasn’t there. Those first holidays without their presence is always different and difficult. Our azaleas got frost nipped so only about half of them bloomed. We have two peonies with 2 blooms each (the very first ever!) that I’m babying. I planted gladiolas Sunday afternoon. We haven’t had any in so many years, I thought I would give them a try this year. Hopefully , I’ll get the seeds out today (marigolds and zinnias). Happy gardening! Clara❤️
Thank you, Clara. Yes, Easter was sad for me because my Daddy always bragged on my meals. We had a wonderful afternoon with the grands hunting Easter eggs. I am sorry about your azaleas. Yay, for the peonies. We had to transplant two of our peony bushes last fall, but they have buds this spring. It is raining here, so no gardening today! Happy gardening ❤️
Hi Pam. Just checking the comment section since we’ve been having some problems with receiving comments.
Happy Earth Day, Pam, and thank you for sharing the beauty of your glorious blooms! It must smell so heavenly when you’re outside amongst all that beauty. Wasn’t that sweet of your granddaughter to want to wear a bridal wreath crown when she becomes a bride? Enjoy your week as you enjoy your garden.
Thank you, Kitty. Your comments are so sweet. Wishing you a lovely week!
Happy Tuesday, Pam! All of your spring blooms are beautiful. Your snowball bush is stunning. Wow, I can’t believe how tall it is! We planted one 5 years ago, and it is really starting to take off. I have been enjoying making arrangements with all the blooms this week, Your bridal wreath spirea is so pretty as well as the cherry blossoms. Your floral arrangement is breathtaking. Enjoy your week, sweet friend!
Thank you, Shannon. Once the snowballs take off, they grow quickly! Enjoy your week, sweet friend!
We do dearly miss our loved ones when they graduate to Heaven Pam, but like you I concentrate on the glory they are beholding now. Sending you a big hug my friend.
I can’t say I’ve ever seen a snowball plant/tree here in Australia. I’m sure we have them, somewhere, but I can’t recall seeing any. They really are stunning.
As are the roses on you arbour, a beautiful quintessential cottage garden entrance, just lovely! Both of our arbours have long gone that we had out the front…
Blessings sweet friend, Jennifer
Jennifer, I know you understand. You have walked that journey so many times. Thank you for your care and hugs!
Blessings, my friend
Pam
Pam, between the snowballs and the Lady Banks, I don’t know which is more striking. I do know I wish I had one of each in my garden. I read that can thrive here, but will need to figure out the perfect spot. Always a pleasure to walk your beautiful grounds. Happy Earth Day!
Thank you, Sarah. Both the Lady Banks and Snowball Viburnum are among the easiest plants to grow. Enjoy your week!
Beautiful spring blooms Pam! Your son’s Kwanzan Cherry tree blooms make my heart skip a beat! Our Lady Banks was especially showy and beautiful this year, despite fewer spring showers. I’m sorry to see our Snowball blooms fade. I missed out on using them for an arrangement between being out of town and several blustery, windy days. We have the same weather pattern as you this week with chances for showers…I hope we get some, we could use the rain. Wishing you a wonderful ahead. 🌸💗
Thank you, Mary. I hope you get rain. It rained yesterday, and is raining this morning! Enjoy your week!
I’d like to think your Parents were present as you gathered round the Easter table…and
Sweet Daddy commenting to your beloved Mother, “See, Pam’s done it again….another great
meal…” I am celebrating our Iris beds and apricot roses….The entry urns have been filled with
ferns and we may settle some seeds among them….. Your Spring blossoming is outstanding
and deserve blue ribbons all around, especially the representative arrangement of each. How
you and Butch inspire others to create garden beauty……
Thank you, Mary for your sweet thoughts. I know your irises are beautiful as well as your apricot roses! We bought annuals today and were able to plant them! Happy Gardening, my friend!
Stunning flowers! Amazing post. Happy Easter, dear friends.
Thank you, Maristella! I hope you are having a lovely week!
yellow is my oldest granddaughter’s favorite flower. and since she’ll be giving us our first great-grandchild in the next month or so, all those pics of those golden gems made me smile, Pam.
weekend blessings to you and yours.
Thank you, Linda! How exciting it will be to welcome your first great-grandchild! Wishing you a lovely Sunday!
Lady Banks is a visual delight!
Thank you Cindie. Have a great week!
Pam
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Hi Pam. Yay, my test comment went through and I’m so glad!! Your garden with all its blooms is just gorgeous. The Kwanzan cherry tree is beautiful and the snowball viburnum blooms are stunning. The Lady Banks Roses have really taken off too, and the Bridal Wreath spirea is so pretty and I hope your sweet little dreamer gets her bridal wreath from them one day. Honestly, I’m just so thankful that I can comment on all this gorgeousness again. Have a wonderful rest of the week, my friend!
Kim, I am so glad you can finally comment! Thank you for persevering and I always appreciate your sweet comments. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, my friend!
Oh, my goodness! Your yard and gardens are just gorgeous! I can only imagine how much you enjoy being outdoors in them at this time of year. That was so sweet that your granddaughter wants to wear the wreath in her hair. May it be so, and may you and Butch be there to see it! God bless all of you.
Thank you, Cheryl. The garden is a lot of work, but we enjoy the results!