Now and Then by Nancy Kline: FORSYTHIA Like it or not this plant always comes...

Now and Then by Nancy Kline: FORSYTHIA

Like it or not this plant always comes...: FORSYTHIA Like it or not this plant always comes back every year.  It is so tough you can cut it to the ground and it will still come...

FORSYTHIA

Like it or not this plant always comes back every year.  It is so tough you can cut it to the ground and it will still come back.  The vibrant, yellow flowers come before the leaves and liven up any garden.  It is a native to eastern Asia and is of the olive family.  The name forsythia comes from a Scottish botanist named William Forsyth and it is also called the Easter tree because of the uplifted limbs that appear to be celebrating in praise the resurrection of Christ. 

My forsythia is planted in the back of my greenhouse.  We let it grow for awhile after it blooms and then give it a good trimming.  It is easy to propagate as there are always little plants spring up from the branches that touch the ground just in case you want more plants. 

It is really a pleasant sight when out on the roads to observe these bright yellow plants.  It is a good assurance that SPRING is really here. 

LOVE ANYTHING THAT BLOOMS !!!!

 

Now and Then by Nancy Kline: MAGNOLIA STELLATAThe Magnolia Stellata is more c...

Now and Then by Nancy Kline: MAGNOLIA STELLATA

The Magnolia Stellata is more c...: MAGNOLIA STELLATA The Magnolia Stellata is more commonly known as Royal Star Magnolia.  Its blooming is one of the first signs that ...

MAGNOLIA STELLATA

The Magnolia Stellata is more commonly known as Royal Star Magnolia.  Its blooming is one of the first signs that Spring has finally arrived.  The buds start swelling usually in mid February and by late March it is completely covered with beautiful white flowers which come out before the leaves. 

When I purchased my small tree it was labeled wrong.  It was supposed to have pink flowers.  The first time it bloomed I kept looking for pink and it never happened but I decided to keep the tree anyway and really have enjoyed the purity of the delicate white flowers.   When left to its own, its branches go all the way to the ground but we have to keep the lower limbs cut back as they interfere with our irrigation system. 

This is one of the flowers from the tree.  The petals have a very small tip of brown on the ends which add to the beauty.  The flowers have a very slight aroma very much like the regular magnolia which blooms in late summer but it is so light that you can barely  smell it. 

 

ENJOY THE EARLY SPRING AND ALL ITS BEAUTY!!!



Now and Then by Nancy Kline: DOWNSTAIRS LIVING AND DININGFinally got around t...

Now and Then by Nancy Kline: DOWNSTAIRS LIVING AND DINING

Finally got around t...: DOWNSTAIRS LIVING AND DINING Finally got around to getting the new window treatments up (Simple Life Flax Antique White Ruff...

DOWNSTAIRS LIVING AND DINING

Finally got around to getting the new window treatments up (Simple Life Flax Antique White Ruffled Curtains) after waiting weeks for our business containers to be  delivered from the New York docks.  Bad weather caused so many delays.  No new furniture was needed as kids had enough hand-me-downs to overload me plus what I had in storage.  I also found several items in the attic that I had forgotten about.  Some of the furniture is from trips to China made several years ago.  We would shop and have the antique Chinese pieces put on containers along with our merchandise.  The coffee table is actually an old Chinese bed.  The older pieces are unique and none of them have any nails.  Nearly all of the oriental vases are gifts from vendors and friends in China. 



 

After arranging and rearranging we are finally happy with the end results. It is a good mixture of many cultures. Not too busy but busy enough to satisfy my over indulgence in the shabby look and hanging onto old stuff. 

 

WHAT WILL I FIND NEXT IN THE ATTIC  ?



Now and Then by Nancy Kline: DAFFODILSNarcissus more commonly called daffodils ...

Now and Then by Nancy Kline: DAFFODILSNarcissus more commonly called daffodils ...: DAFFODILS Narcissus more commonly called daffodils are one of the first signs of the coming of the long - awaited for SPRING.  Their ...

DAFFODILS

Narcissus more commonly called daffodils are one of the first signs of the coming of the long-awaited for SPRING.  Their bright yellow blooms are always a welcome from the cold winter days. 

This year my daffodils tried showing their glowing faces just a bit too early only get covered by a late two inch snow that caused them to lay their pretty yellow faces on the ground and hope for warmer weather.  I checked on them every day and began to think that maybe they were too scared to stand up again but they finally decided to open up in full bloom and show off in their own precious way. 

Not only are they absolutely beautiful in color but the sweet scent they put out fills any room with sunshine. 

I have a lot of daffodils scattered throughout my yard but mostly in the front which is open to the hungry deer.  They seem to be a plant that the deer do not enjoy, at least the ones in my neighborhood.  There are a few white ones mixed in with the yellows but I really enjoy the bright yellow ones and they do look great with my pink house in the background. 

The daffodils are usually the first flowers that I cut from my yard each spring.  They are especially pretty in cobalt blue glass.  I keep three or four vases filled with them in my house, take some to work,  and love giving them to friends and family.   

This is a picture of how my daffodils looked a few days after the snow melted and they were trying very hard to hold their heads up.

 

MAKE YOUR GARDEN LOOK BEAUTIFUL AND SMELL GOOD TOO!  PLANT SOME DAFFODILS NEXT SPRING!!

Now and Then by Nancy Kline: MARCHMarch has marched in with still signs of win...

Now and Then by Nancy Kline: MARCH
March has marched in with still signs of win...: MARCH March has marched in with still signs of winter and a few peeps of spring showing.  I bet my daffodils are wondering why they tr...

MARCH

March has marched in with still signs of winter and a few peeps of spring showing.  I bet my daffodils are wondering why they tried coming up so early. This picture is one of Maud Humphrey's calendar paintings of children representing the country of Scotland.  It is a good choice with the child wearing the famous Scotland plaids.   

As March marches in with its winds blowing winter right off our calendars we will certainly welcome the coming of Spring.  There are several things with which to celebrate this month.  We have Ash Wednesday on the 6th which means just a few weeks until Easter.  On the 10th most of the nation goes on Daylight Savings Time.  Think of all the things we can get done with an extra hour of sunlight!  LOL.  St. Patrick's Day is on the 17th and we all think green.  Then on the 20th we get to formally welcome in the much waited for First Day of Spring.  

Our family has several birthdays to celebrate.  My dad's was March 13 and he would have been 109, oldest son March 16, third son March 20.  Then one granddaughter on March 9, one grandson on March 20.  Then there are also several extended family members born in March as well as many friends.  We will be busy sending out Happy Birthday greetings.

POOR DAFFODILS WITH THEIR HEADS BENT IN PRAYERS FOR WARMER WEATHER !