“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 ESV
Blessings to you on this Palm Sunday, 2026! Saturday morning was a cool, breezy 40 degrees after a dry front had passed through late Friday. A big change was felt as the high temp yesterday was about 20 degrees cooler than Friday. I wasn’t dressed quite as well as needed while I waited on the sunrise, but stuck it out! It must be March here in NE Alabama!
Spring greetings can come in any number of ways and colors. This looks like a celebration of the red, white, and blue…with plenty of new growth green mixed in. The season seems to have stepped it up a notch this past week as we saw a lot of changes across the landscape. Not surprising, given that April is almost here. A blink and it will be summer!
The nights below freezing and a bit of snow made for some sad faces on parts of the Candy Corn Spirea. We’ve been wondering how the cold would affect a number of our plants and how recovery might look. I was out pulling weeds when I happened to notice that the spirea had both damage and new growth.
And, speaking of weeds, they seem to be mostly immune to the cold. This is a good illustration of why it is almost impossible to grab a dandelion and easily pull it up by the roots. It requires the help of a digging tool, plus a lot of patience!
The verdict is in on our Japanese Magnolia’s ability to rebound and bloom again. The cold zapped all the existing blooms, but within days, we believe there were more new blooms than at first!
The fact that the Snowball Viburnum was covered with buds and not blooms must have been a protector, the tight buds not being susceptible to the frost! Hopefully frost will stay away. If not, this will become a brown tree, looking more like mud balls than snow balls!
Should a bride need a bridal wreath made from fresh flowers this spirea could definitely provide all that is needed. Again, timing is everything, as most of the Bridal Wreath Spirea blooms were not yet present when the freeze came.
This sweet little flower is always in bloom, but was especially radiant Thursday as we celebrated with her as our “Birthday Girl”. EK is now 7! Earlier in the week we had an afternoon of shopping, a meal at the restaurant of her choice, and then an overnight with us, doing whatever EK wanted to do. Another precious memory was made!
Our wild flowering dogwoods, native to the eastern US, are typically white when they bloom, but there are pink ones, but those are rare, being my experience. Most that are pink are cultivars like this one. Dogwoods are often blooming around Palm Sunday and Easter. I have heard people say their petals remind them of a cross. Did you know that the center is truly the flower, and what appears as 4 petals are not really petals at all? These are called bracts, and are actually modified leaves, not flower petals!
The dogwood in our yard is the only one we have nearby and is a transplant that I dug from the woods edge about a quarter mile away many years ago. It was a baby then but survived the move. Dogwoods do not get large and grow quite slow.
Wisteria is an absolute beauty when flowering and has been blooming in various places for a couple of weeks. While we have a native wisteria variety that grows in the eastern US, varieties from Japan and China were brought here many years ago and have long since escaped cultivation. Those non-native species grow extremely fast, twining around anything they can find to grow on, often choking out native growth.
Sometimes getting a close up look at blooms is not easy since they can be in high places, but Pam and I discovered a very accessible group of wisteria vines last week. I’ve made mention of this before, but again, vines produce some of the most colorful and unique blooms that can be found!
Crossvine as touched by yesterday’s first rays of sunshine. I wasn’t sure it was blooming yet, but decided to have a look while out for a sunrise walk. It is a native vine here in the southeast US.
I have noticed this shrub on the river bank for several years, taking note that it is green all winter. It is off our trail a little ways but easily spotted. I thought it was probably some type holly and never given much thought to it…until last week. According to what I can determine, this is a thorny olive. It is a non-native invasive plant. According to a map I located, the species has been reported in 25 or so of our 67 counties, our county being shown as one of them. There are two smaller shrubs nearby. What puzzles me is the fact that I am certain this has been here quite some time, therefore it seems to me there should be a lot more around? I plan to check later to see if it produces an olive shaped fruit (hence the common name).
Some plants may be tricky to identify, but not azaleas. Area azaleas have suddenly begun to get our attention as well as the attention of this Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. We began to see more butterflies last week, especially swallowtails. I briefly spotted a Monarch while walking in the wildlife/bird sanctuary on Wednesday but no chance for a photo. We typically do not see Monarchs until April around our house, and then again in October.
A widely popular ornamental is the Japanese Cherry. They were in full bloom last week in a number of local places where I happened to venture, in search of what was “springing” forth!
Although no one would argue against the grandeur of these clusters of flowers, Pam and I still believe the cultivar, Kwanzan Cherry, gets the top award. We have one Kwanzan Cherry down on Seth’s place which is slightly behind these trees in the bloom cycle. We expect to see it in full bloom this week!
One week prior to the Resurrection (Celebrated on Easter Sunday), Jesus entered Jerusalem in a manner that has become known as the Triumphal Entry. The Gospel of John identifies the leafy branches laid on the road before him as palm branches.
Have a wonderful Palm Sunday!
“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!””
John 12:13 ESV
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Your weather is about 2 weeks ahead of ours in central VA. Our snowball viburnum and azaleas are just beginning to bloom. Like you, I enjoy seeing daily what’s blooming or sprouting.
Thank you Gail. It is the time of year that seems to have daily changes outdoors. I spot something different or new every day. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I’m thankful for Palm Sunday!
I have very strong feelings toward invasive wisteria! ‘Nuf said.
Thank you Rachel. We have a lot of wisteria around but we are kinda glad not to have any on our property. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
All of the blooms are gorgeous! I love wisteria, but it’s so hard to control. Fortunately, we have an avid gardener a few doors down the road, so we enjoy those blooms. The dogwood trees and azaleas are beautiful here as well. We even have some late blooming daffodils. Enjoy your day. Clara❤️
Happy belated 7th birthday to EK! She looks like Pam. I know she’s got her sweet, thoughtful personality as well from what you’ve previously posted. All of your grands are precious!
Thank you Clara. We had a fun time with EK last week.
Thank you Clara. Wisteria is difficult to control so we are glad that we don’t have it on our place. Like you we enjoy it at other places. We have a variety of narcissus in one pasture that doesn’t bloom until April but other daffodils are gone now. Have an enjoyable week!
Butch and Pam
Everything looks so beautiful in bloom. Viburnum is gorgeous. Happy Birthday to your sweet EK. They grow so fast. I bet she enjoyed dinner out and coming back to spend the night with both of you. Those are great memories you are creating. Happy Holy Week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. The grands all like to spend the night, although little Daniel hasn’t had an overnight yet. Seems that’s a big deal for them. I remember loving to spend the night with my grandparents. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Have A Blessed Palm Sunday. EK looks so pretty with her crown and birthday outfit.
Marilyn and Marion
EK had the best time at her birthday party. Thanks so much Marion and Marilyn and wishing you both a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Best pictures ever! EK is turning into a pretty little lady. Happy 7th birthday EK🎈The azalea with the butterfly in front was beautiful. Everything is in bloom here and the nighttime temperatures have dropped to freezing again. Can’t win for losing. Praise God for Palm Sunday and Holy Week followed by Resurrection Sunday.
Thank you Alice. Freezing again for you, the weather is really so unpredictable. But one thing is predictable, Jesus who rose that Sunday and later ascended will definitely come again. Have a blessed Holy Week!
Butch and Pam
Beautiful pictures of the loveliness in your area! The prettiest photo of Al was Miss EK celebrating her 7th birthday with what sounded like lots of fun. I hope your snowballs don’t turn into mud balls ads that would be so sad. I did have a wonderful Palm Sunday with church and watching Harper in a mountain biking race. Have a great Holy Week.
Thank you Kitty. Hope Harper had a good race. We don’t see a below freezing temp in the long range forecast so maybe the snowballs will be around for a while. Glad you are having a wonderful Palm Sunday and wish for you a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Palm Sunday Pam & Butch! Gorgeous spring blooms, especially that snowball viburnum. Happy Birthday wishes to EK! 🎉🎂💕
Thank you Mary and thanks for the birthday wishes. The snowball is hanging on. We hope you’ve had a wonderful Palm Sunday. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Palm Sunday is always so special as we remember that famous entry into Jerusalem. Today one of the Sunday School classes carried palm fronds as we sang to His Glory. Happy birthday to the Disney fan…EK’s smile is prettier than Jasmine (on her shirt) and I couldn’t help but notice Aladdin, the Genie and Jasmine on the cake. Did PJ make the cake? My most precious memories are spending the night at Grandma’s house…..on freshly ironed sheets no less. They always felt so crisp and cozy at the same time…and waking to the wonderful aroma of bacon frying….I can smell it now. 🥰. Your snowball is spectacular as is the azalea…with the Eastern Tiger swallowtail! Love all your ‘blooms’!! Spring is trying desperately to spring forth isn’t it?
Thank you Kari. There was nothing quite like staying at grandma’s. And bacon, nothing has the flavor of bacon and doesn’t it smell awesome. You are very observant with your cake assessment. Allison made the cake. My experience with the cake was eating two large pieces. PJ makes a wonderful cake but Allison too is a terrific cake maker. Sounds like a great Palm Sunday for you. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
A lovely post as always Butch & Pam. Grandies grow so quickly, I fondly remember the sleepovers with my grandparents & my grandies coming here when they were small.
Your garden is blooming & I love the photos! We’re picking juicy fat strawberries here at the moment as the cold begins with an icy blast from the Antarctic (which is unseasonally icy at the moment) but makes for a great night’s sleep!
How wonderful it will be to see Jesus Triumphal return!
Blessings for this coming week to you both & for a great time over Easter,
Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. Interestingly, next month is the main strawberry picking month here. They are so good. A blast from the Antarctic makes us chilled just thinking about it. His next return will be a triumphal entry quite beyond anything we can even imagine. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Thank you, His return will indeed be beyond our imaginations! 🤗
Greetings Butch and Pam! This Spring certainly has been the craziest weather in recent memory. We went down to 31 early this morning. I am holding my breath to see what might have been damaged. The pollen is really cranking up too…it literally slid down my windshield! But I still love springtime! Happy Birthday EK. How did 7 years fly by so quickly? Blessed Easter Week to the Richardson clan (we hit an all time attendance record today for Palm Sunday).
Thank you Roxanne. We were cooler today but still 40 this morning. Attendance is often high on Easter but sounds like it was a very special Palm Sunday for you. And pollen, maybe it is as much as we remember seeing and probably we have a couple more weeks of it. It’s dry here. Rain would help. Have a blessed Holy Week!
Butch and Pam
Belated birthday wishes to your sweet granddaughter! I’m sure you had a great time with her during the birthday sleep-over! Lovely floral blooms in your part of the world!
Thank you Mary. It was a very sweet time. The grands love coming over one at a time because they get all the attention that way. We hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Oh my goodness – so much in bloom and all of it gorgeous! I’m so glad the Viburnum survived and the spirea will almost certainly grow back as they survive even here where late spring frosts are not at all uncommon. The Swallowtail is magnificent on the azaleas. EK is so precious and they grow so fast – happy birthday to her and I’m sure she had a wonderful time at her sleep over. Wishing you both a blessed Easter week!
Thank you Kim. Wasn’t sure if you had spirea but it sounds like it has a wide range of distribution. Much is blooming here now but it is not unusual for us to still get a night or two of frost in April. We are seeing some different butterflies but swallowtails are the most numerous on warm days. The grands do love sleep overs. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Magnificent photos… Breathtaking! Happy Belated Birthday to adorable E.K.! Blessings, my dear friends.
Thank you Maristella and thanks especially for EK’s birthday wish. Hope you are having a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Per usual, absolutely gorgeous pictures and Scripture quotes. Thank you for the eye and spirit candy! Have a blessed Holy Week and a very happy Easter celebration.
Thank you Michele! Blessings and Happy Easter!
Butch & Pam
Such a variety of early bloomers you enjoy in NE Alabama! Thank you for sharing their beauty with us.
Thank you Nancy!
I’m a week late, but hope you all had a beautiful Palm Sunday! So thankful for dear Jesus and all He suffered for us! May He continue to bless you and your family!
Thank you Cheryl. We did enjoy a blessed Holy Week from Palm Sunday through yesterday. We hope you had a blessed week as well!
Butch and Pam