Gorgeous Morning

When I woke up this morning and looked over to our little island on the pond what I saw was breathtaking...it had gotten very cold during the night and the mist was rising from the pond's water. Our days have been warmer so the water is now warming yet the nights cold so we are now getting the early morning fogs and mist...just gorgeous to see...these temperature fluctuations also helps the sap to flow so maple syrup making is full speed ahead right now. My husband went to get the newspapers down at the end of the driveway with camera in hand and started snapping. He went over to the island and also took some lovely photos...below are some of those wonderful pictures he took...ENJOY!

At one end of the island...this is my favorite spot to look at the water...you really don't know where on earth you are when you stand here...it truly could be anywhere...it is simply timeless...

We call these two very tall trees the "wedding trees". This is where stood to get married almost twelve years ago...

This spot is looking from the island to our house on the mainland...see how still the pond was this morning...the reflections are incredible.

From the causeway to the island...you can just about see the dock and day cabin.

From the mainland to our peninsula that goes around to the other side of the property...this forms the cove that we swim in when the hot days finally arrive.

From our house to the island...what I woke to this AM...a splendid view...peaceful and truly magical.

Elizabeth

Spring Garden

While the photos of this garden look barren, there is greenery emerging everywhere. Bulbs have lots of big plump buds just waiting for a bit of sunshine and warmth to give us lots of color.
Perennials are picking out of the soil everywhere and it looks like all is well.

Don't be fooled by the lack of color...the earth is bursting with lots of green getting ready to unfurl stems, buds and further riots of color.

C'mon spring!

Lots of pretty things to come!

These crocus are breathtaking as well as a very welcome sight in the lower rock garden...

A nice clump of daffodils loaded with buds...

Sedum getting ready to do it's thing...

Rows of garlic just emerging...feed these today with lots of good stuff as garlic is a very heavy feeder....

This boxwood wintered well...this shrub was so small when we first planted it...about 8 inches high and scrawny...it has done well here...notorious slow growers...

Today it rains...so it goes...April showers bring May flowers!

Elizabeth

The Garden is Awakening After a Long Winters Nap

It is nice to see the garden waking up....for the past couple of weeks green foliage is peeking out and reaching for the sun.

Beautiful camassia emerging...I planted many more of these early spring bulbs last fall...they are a treat to see about the garden.

A huge clump of catmint is greening up...

This is a 15 year old clump of chives...I have moved them from one house to another and gifted many divisions away over the years..these chives just keep on giving!

No sign of a new peony I planted in the fall...still to early

A golden sage is ready for some picking...pork chops anyone?

Thyme getting ready to give a big boost of growth

Alpine strawberries coming to life...these are mainly planted for the chipmunks. The chippys sit on their bottoms and hold these little ruby gems in their front paws and eat away...so cute to see.

While this tender perennial curly leaf parsley is treated as an annual here in New England...I always leave it on place in the autumn during clean up in hopes of it returning...and sure enough I spotted some new growth.

Spearmint is emerging as well...I don't plant the mint in the garden proper as it spreads like wildfire...so I keep it in a large pot sunk into the garden soil...this way I can can control this plant rather than it control me!

Peppermint is also slowly awakening after a winter nap in it's own pot.

All is looking well...and I am looking forward to a very healthy garden after all the snow we had this past winter....after all it has been said - snow is "poor man's fertilizer".

Elizabeth