What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Rain fell for days at the end of the week, but breaks in the clouds here and there allowed a few more photos of our local avian choir. I sat on the veranda in the cool morning air, quiet and calm, listening to the birdsong. This chickadee was still for just a moment before swooping to the bird feeder for a bite of breakfast.

I watched the birdhouse, delighted to see the bluebird going out and in several times. I hope she is feeding hatchlings, although I cannot be sure.

She was very busy on this morning.

In the garden ...

It has been a warmer than usual winter so far, with a few cold days here and there. We usually have two snows in a winter, but there hasn’t been a single day of snow this year so far. It makes me concerned that we will get a late freeze that will damage the local apple crop. Anyway, the warming afternoons have woken up some bulbs. I first noticed these coming up around the dormant lemon tree that is in a pot. The pot was in the Carolina room to protect it from freezing. I actually don’t remember ...

The garden is coming alive, and more things are blooming now, too. It is lovely to have warmer days while still having cool nights. It makes me want to go dig in the dirt just a bit. It was a busy time for the garden this week, so settle in for a long and picture heavy post. Last week, a warm day with a cool breeze was perfect for getting some of that clean up done that I talked about last week. As I hauled some tools out to the front, the beauty of the azaleas made me pause, and ...

Spring seems to be here at last for good. This week the azaleas have burst into bloom along the driveway circle, with the larger white one and the light pink both fully opened up now.

Down the driveway, the later bloomers are coming out now too. Another couple of whites bloom along with multiple pinks and a few corals.

Out in the countryside, our apple trees bloomed about two weeks ago, before the two nights of freezing weather. We hope the damage wasn’t extensive. Pretty white blossoms are on this tree, while others will have a pink blush.

The ...

The first of my son’s irises are beginning to bloom. They take my breath away every year, so gorgeous!

I had the privilege of watching three bee swarms yesterday. It’s an act of nature that never fails to amaze me. I love standing in the midst of an active swarm… the sound and experience is incredible. We had rain blow in yesterday, but I was able to snag a picture of a small swarm before they flew off to find shelter.

About that pepper manna. I think this may possibly be the most fabulous smelling, mouth watering treat ...

My iris beds are beginning to pop. I have so many purple irises of the old variety, found along ditches and abandoned home sites. I also have quite a few of the white ones, which are my least favorite, but they were here at the house when we bought it and I have split them many times over the years.

Irises are my favorite flower, and they were loved by my youngest son as well. April is a bittersweet month for me, as they begin to bloom I’m equally torn between joy and grief. The specialty irises I planted ...

Late summer blooms can still be seen even with the garden winding down in the summer heat.  This gorgeous dahlia bloomed recently, heralding the colors of fall right around the corner.

I still have cherry tomatoes on the vine, taking their time to ripen in the sun.

I planted an avocado seed and have a nice little tree starting.  It gets too cold here for them in winter, so I plan to pot this one in a large pot so it can spend the winter in the Carolina room – our three season porch out back.  I’ve never been able ...