Snowballs in May

Hello everyone!  How does your garden grow?  I grabbed my camera to take you on a garden tour.  Well.  We have been having a most lovely spring time and things are really popping around here.  Front and center we have these gorgeous snowball flowers.  They look like giant popcorn balls don't they?   A downpour brought them down into a pretty cascade along the fence.  Their spindly stems just can't support them.

Oh!  And the fragrance.  Sort of a cross between a carnation and a gardenia and something else. . . I can't quite identify.  All wonderful nonetheless.  Just weeks before, the tiny grape hyacinth was in bloom at their feet.  So pretty!  In case your are wondering, this is one bush.

These don't make the best cut flowers, as the stems are rather short and they are quite top-heavy, but that didn't stop me from gathering up a few bunches for the house.  They will last a few days before the petals start to drop.  So worth it, even if short-lived.  I find myself gasping in awe every time I pass by them.  If you plant this, know that it gets a trunk like a tree and can grow up to 15 feet tall.  Just saying.  Be ready. 

Also in the front flower beds, wonderful bloom on the tree peony this year.  It barely did anything last year, so I was so happy to see these survived the storm.  This bush is about 8-feet tall and reduces down to nothing but dead sticks during the winter.  It is an amazing transformation in just a few months.

Here's another picture of it during the day. 

Before the snowballs, there were lilacs.  Oh my.  It is just impossible for me to pick a favorite flower.   

This was the table-scape in our home library yesterday.  More pretty cuttings from the yard.  The rhododendrons are blooming like mad at the moment.  I had to dodge honeybees and hummingbirds for just a few clippings.  But what inspiration for the budding artist, as Ginger likes to sit here and doodle in her notebooks and journals.  Her favorite subjects to sketch are animals and flowers.  Now that makes perfect sense.

 

Speaking of animals.  We haven't had many deer, but the cottontails are bravely venturing out again.  Can you spot the bunny amongst the shrubbery?

Here he is!  But what is he up to?  

If you want to attract rabbits (and deer) into your yard, plant candytuft.  They can't resist it.  As of this morning, every single flower was gone.  My gift. (smile).

Other backyard news . . . the darling Western bluebirds are back!  They've taken up residence in the birdhouses around the garden and are on bug patrol and abatement duty.  Love them.  One crazy bird has been fluttering at the windows on a regular basis, so we started calling him, Friendly Fred.  It is unknown whether Fred is watching us or his reflection in the glass.  At times he does seem to be watching TV from his perch here.  Silly bird.

Shop News:  The new website has been up and running for a few months now and I am happy to report that everything is working beautifully!  (I am so hugging Grace.)  Much thanks and appreciation to all our customers, old and new, that have stopped by to shop and/or just browse and enjoy the nostalgia.  Now that the website is less time-consuming, I actually have more time to concentrate on collecting. Who knew there were so many adorable patterns out there?  At last count there were about 800 patterns up on the website.  Over ten years worth.  Wow.  It does warm my heart to know that there are still a number of hand-stitchers out there contentedly putting the designs of the past to good use again.  It is part of our cultural American heritage after all and worth preserving.  It's all good! 

That's all the news from my little perch today.  Fare Thee Well, until next time . . . 

Comments

[Jane]

How pretty! Lilacs are my favorite flower. I remember way back when, every yard had a snowball bush and a lilac. Where I live (N. MI) the daffodils and forsythias are just starting to bloom. Happy Spring!

Jane

[Vee]

Oh I love seeing your snowball bush blooming so happily! You are way ahead of me for my lilacs are just tight buds. Happy Spring!

[Vee]

said the echo...

[Carol]

I read snowballs and thought "What the Heck". Then I saw your lovely garden! My peony don't bloom till much later. They are just popping through the dirt now. Lilacs are just starting to bloom a little. I finally had warm enough weather to get my hands dirty filling in holes the dogs have dug! This is a lovely post. So happy to have a visit with you.
xx, Carol

[Susan]

I've never seen snowball flowers, but they are breathtaking. I love the lilac too. The flowers are pretty and the scent heavenly. Thank you for a peek in your world. :) I hope you and your family are well.

[Nancy]

Beautiful. I have a shrub that looks a lot like your snowball... Always a sight to see! Thanks for sharing. PS - count me in on the hand embroiderers. I've been doing pillowcases for gifts. Have a niece getting married and simply must do a his & hers set. :-)

[elizabethmackey4444@yahoo.com]

I have the very same snowball flowers, and they are called viburnum. They are so sweet aren't they? I also got to enjoy our peonies as well. Love springtime in the garden! I sure wish I had your lilacs!!

[Velma]

Your garden is beautiful, as always. Snowballs are on of my favorite flowers. Yours is awesome. I hope all is well in your corner of the world.