Welcome Spring
Spring officially arrived on Friday and it was a wonderful day here in the foothills of NE Alabama. After a roller coaster week of weather, this first weekend of spring is warm and dry. We usually get a cold snap or two in April, but for now it appears the bridal wreath spirea will recover from an unusual week (coming up later in the post). This is how it should look in late March!
What a gorgeous, warm afternoon as the snowball viburnum prepares to burst forth with those large, round, white blooms that deservedly earn this shrub its name!
Last Sunday was full of surprises. Not only was it unseasonably warm, being in the low 80’s, we discovered blooms on the Lady Banks Rose. To find the first ones on March 15 was a surprise since this is typically an early April bloomer. At any rate, last week started with spring in the air. But then…
…a few hours later, on Monday morning, this guy showed up. The grands called him a snow monster. We think they know what they speak of…
…because this is how things were shaping up behind the house on Monday as spring suddenly vanished, along with about 50 degrees!
I hope you are willing to trust me when I say this Lady Banks Rose that covers the arbor really does have some very pretty yellow blooms hidden behind the white stuff. Maybe the mid 80’s that are due again by weeks end will cause the plants to rebound nicely! After all, this wasn’t the blizzard of ’26!
The Bridal Wreath Spirea may not fare too well, but it remains to be seen. I must say it actually looks good with snow on it. The surface of everything was warm because of the nice days prior, so the snow melted quickly. However, the snow showers were so heavy that there was accumulation and everything did turn white. The mountain areas nearby received a couple of inches, our only snow of the season…so far! Crazy weather everywhere!
Pam wanted to bring us back to something a bit more spring-like and normal, so she decided to lead out with more of the Lantern Festival tour. Possibly posing inside a pig head isn’t exactly normal, but I can assure you, the grands thought it was hilarious and the greatest thing!
This trio gives everything a name. This is a lighted version of Kanga and Roo!
An exception to our night at the Lantern Festival was this character. He wasn’t given a name. A mythical being I would suppose? Perhaps someone would have an idea?
Other than maybe the dinosaurs for Wyatt, the ducks were probably the overall favorite…and there was no shortage of ducks!
The frogs and the frog pond received my vote for the most colorful!
We were informed that this was found in Mario, and always out to get you when you played the game. I’ve played this and other games with the kids and I always finish last in whatever we are doing. I think my character in the game is constantly being eaten by this, whatever it is! I need to ask EM more about it.
We were delighted to catch Grace’s High Falls showing a good flow of water recently. This is a seasonal falls and it is often completely dry, nonexistent at certain times of the year. We don’t alway get to see it in action when we visit the canyon. It is actually Alabama’s highest waterfall at 133 feet.
For two years we’ve had pines dying in our woods west of the house. It appears that pine beetles are the problem. I made this drone photo early last week and you can see a portion of the dead trees below. We’ve had about 15 cut since this pic was made. They were just too close to the yard where I mow and where the kids might play or roam (and the picnic table). They are a real danger as they rot and fall sometimes without wind and without warning!
This is a native grass that we are seeing in certain places around our place. It seems more common than I remembered from past seasons, but maybe I had not paid close attention. It is called deer-tongue grass. I am assuming that the leaves look like a deer’s tongue, but I can’t verify because I’ve not had a deer stick out its tongue at me!
I can always count on the wild azaleas to be blooming in March on the ridges behind the house. I have a spot that offers me a narrow, but fairly level path to get close. They seem to grow on steep, rocky places that I would not attempt to get to on my new knee, but I have found them at this accessible place for years. This was Thursday afternoon, after several mornings of below freezing temps!
This shows 3 different growth/bloom phases of these azaleas. To me, these blooms are much different than the bloom I shared last week from Little River which I still believe was some type fruit tree or shrub. I still lean toward wild plum on that one.
Spending a 70 degree afternoon observing a perfectly clear blue sky while gazing through a beautiful display of new life was a moving way to spend some peaceful, quiet time last week. Creation is beyond astonishing…indescribable. The Creator so much more!
Have a tremendous week!
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
We had a one night blast of 28 degrees after unseasonably warm temperatures but thankfully no snow. Unfortunately, some of my vegetables and tomato plants were burned even with covering. March is always a mixed bag of weather. Glad your snow didn’t stick around, although i am sure the grands were disappointed.
Thank you Rachel. We do think the grands would’ve loved to try out the sleds we own but have never used. We’ve not planted any annuals yet and we’re thinking mid April on all that here. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
A very volatile (weatherwise) week, indeed. I covered several.plants, as we had 3″ of snow and 48 hrs of hard freezing temps. A few lilac tips may have been damaged, not from cold but from heavy weight of snow on the frost cloth! I had to brush it off at least three times.
Butch, EM looks like you in the photo of the kids with Kanga & Roo! The frogs at the pond are too cute with the colors reflecting. That wizard is kind of scary looking!
Spring is my favorite season. Thank you for sharing its beauty on your property and surrounds.
Thank you Rita. We kinda figured you got some snow. Maybe that will be it for now and spring can stay around. A wizard, yes I guess it is a wizard and I too don’t care for his looks. I’ll remain fond of the frogs. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Very unusual weather for us also. We have been in the 80’s all week which is most usual as March is our snowiest month and we haven’t seen any moisture. The mountains that get the most snow also is lacking, the drought is still in full force. My redbud tree is blooming and so is the plum tree that is fully open and if God opens up the heavens and gives us snow the branches of the trees will be broken. These trees open late in April as a usual thing, I have had to water everything including the grass as the arborist down the street says the grass is dying. I’m ordering sod for one area of the yard. I’m asking everyone to pray for an end to the drought.
Your snow this time of year must have been a shock but snow insulates the vegetation so that the freezing temperatures don’t harm the plant. The waterfall you show means you have had rain a plenty I suppose.
Thank you Alice. It seems our winter was dryer than normal too but a couple of fronts brought rain and life to the waterfalls. Your warm weather is quite unusual indeed for your part of the world. Our meteorologist showed a 10 day forecast for us that was all dry, unheard of for here in March. Sounds like you need rain now and not snow. Hope you have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
The weather was wild this past week for sure. We had that 50 degree drop and got a few snow flurries. Your snow, had it continued, would have been a sizable snow indeed!, It looks beautiful coming down from the sky. I really love the lantern festival y’all had! The characters are so cute. I like the ducks and the frogs. The flamingos were my favorite from last weeks post. The kangaroos are fun too. I don’t know what to think about the blue wizard, but the colorful Venus flytrap gets you every time in the game! I hate to think about all those lovely pine trees succumbing to the pine beetle. That’s terrible! Enjoy your day. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. I’m glad you and others knew the blue guy was a wizard. I didn’t think about a wizard but the girls also informed me that it was a wizard. Some things I enjoy learning from an almost 10 year old. Not much can be done about those beetles but thin out the trees as far as I know. The flamingos were a colorful group. We hope you enjoy your week!
Butch and Pam
Fun day at the Lantern Festival. My redbud tree was coming into bloom with the warm days, but three nights in the 20s killed the blossoms. It was only pretty for about one or two days, and didn’t get fully bloomed.
Thank you Carole. We had blooms that definitely died with the cold nights. We are seeing some coming back from buds that apparently aren’t as susceptible as the petals. Hopefully your things will rebound somewhat. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
It’s definitely spring weather here in TX, if not a bit too warm of late. We are reaching into the 90s. Trees are leafing out and the redbuds and mountain laurels are gorgeous! Fun to see all the spring color and progress on your property. What a fun time for the littles to experience the Lantern Festival. Making memories!
Thank you Sarah. My, my, it’s early for 90’s. Hope it’s not an indicator of the coming summer. Mid 80’s for us today. We do cherish making those memories. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
The Lantern festival looked like lots of fun. How beautiful the colors light up. We are having similar weather. Yesterday and today could hit 80. That is normal for you guys in the south up here in the midwest we usually do not see these temps until the summer months. Have a good start to the new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. What we are experiencing this weekend on a major level is pollen. Everything is covered in yellow dust and the sky is hazy with it. Rough on allergies. Somehow some of it even gets inside. Enjoy the warmth and enjoy the week!
Butch and Pam
Gorgeous photos! Your Grands are adorable. Have a lovely week ahead. Autumn has just arrived here, a very pleasant season with beautiful skies!
Thank you Maristella. We weren’t sure if you were far enough south to enjoy and experience a noticeable change of seasons but it seems you are. We wish you a pleasant week and a splendid autumn!
Butch and Pam
I think we’ve all experienced crazy fluctuations in temperatures recently, with the 30’s and then into the 90’s for me anyways! Spring is ever faithful and always arrives. Your adventures with the grands looked like such fun. Thank you for the verse from Hebrews. Have a great first full week of Spring.
Thank you Kitty. A few days ago we would’ve said stay warm and now we say stay cool. It is early spring for certain. Our adventures were definitely a fun time. We hope your week is a pleasant one!
Butch and Pam
Butch, thank you for the beautiful photos of the lantern festival and of course the grands. Yes the weather has been really strange even here in Florida, we’ve had 40s and 50s and then it shoots up to 90° in the afternoon. But I love spring happy spring to you and Pam.
Thank you Kari. Maybe the weather will settle in to a more seasonal pattern soon. We are experiencing some very nice days now. The weekend has been perfect. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Wow, snow in Spring, that’s amazing! I agree Butch it seems we have crazy weather everywhere on this planet.
I love the name for Mother & Joey Kangaroo. 😊 We have Eastern Grey Roos (as we call them here in Australia) in this area which we often see in the paddocks & just a little further inland Rock Wallabies in amongst the Rocky Cliffs & Mountains which are super cute. But of course further outback we have the Big Red Roos which are huge & can be quite scary. Although all roos are to be respected as they will defend themselves or attack if feeling threatened especially Muma roos carrying Joey’s or Bucks defending their females.
A lovely post as always, blessings to both you & Pam, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. We love to hear of both the flora and fauna that you have there. Thanks for sharing. I always have to research a few things and enjoy learning new things about Australia. I’m definitely curious now to investigate the differences of the Eastern Grey and the Big Red. There are several kangaroos in a portion of the park where we were at the Lantern Festival but they are not very big. I wonder if they are Eastern Grey’s? I will have to inquire of the keepers or someone with the park who knows. Have a great week?
Butch and Pam
Thank you. They may be Eastern Grey’s Butch or Wallabies (small roos) that come in differing sizes depending on the breed. It will be interesting to hear what they are. 😊
I do need to check. There’s a small zoo area and they’ve had kangaroos for several years now.
Beautiful signs of spring in your neck of the woods Butch and Pam! You’re a little ahead of us here in NC but we’ve had the same crazy up and down temps (minus the snow). Love the cute photos of the grands and Pam peeking out of the pig. 😊💗
Thank you Mary. Pollen is the big issue now. I’m sure you experience that too. Pines I believe are the main culprit. We hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Butch & Pam,
What a lovely spring display! I hope the icey snow didn’t damage the one tree’s blooms. Our little persistent crabapple just finished blooming. This year, I fed our roses really early (trying to get blooms before the two oaks leafed out and shaded them) and the rewards are almost here!!! A couple are in bloom at present.
Enjoy your spring and hopefully the weather will stabilize out your way,
Hugs from North Texas,
Barb 🙂
Thank you Barbara. Things are settling in and we do believe everything in the plant world around here is bouncing back. Maybe we are past any more serious cold. We hear parts of Texas has gotten quite warm recently. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
That lantern festival is pretty amazing and love the pics of the grands. The one of Pam is great too lol. I’m glad that spring is on the way in your area but it sounds like you’ve had some kinda crazy weather too. We woke up to about two inches of snow on Saturday and more is in the forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday. Nothing unusual for Calgary though and the sun is warming so the snow typically melts the same day. So sad about all the pine trees and I hope the snowball viburnum and lady banks roses are okay. Have a wonderful week ahead!
Thank you Kim. The snowball and lady banks are looking good today so it seems things are resilient. We reached about 31 C yesterday. Slightly cooler today but nice. We suppose you are a few weeks away from any blooms but hopefully soon for you. Everything is covered in yellow pollen here now. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
The “mythical” creature reminds me a bit of Gandolf in “Lord of the Rings.” I love the Kanga and Roo display the best! The weather surely has been so odd lately. I’m so thankful to be alive to see another springtime! May God continue to bless you and your family!
Thank you Cheryl. I must admit that I have never seen Lord of the Rings but need to. I’ll check out that Gandolf character. And odd weather is right. We are now experiencing dryer conditions than normal for March. But as you well said, thankful to witness a springtime. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
This is so good, “Creation is beyond astonishing…indescribable. The Creator so much more!”
Thank you Mary. Pam was showing me your post and all the flowers are beautiful. I’ll look closer but one she showed me looked like bluebonnets. Always wanted to see those in bloom. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam