Oh goodness, everything is just gorgeous!

Evenshade, your gardens are envious for sure!

Mtn, I never get tired of looking at the beautiful grounds surrounding your home. Just lovely.

Everyone with roses - I am envious! I haven't had the time or patience to try anything but knockouts. Some day, (sigh)!

Trailrunner, we have 9 acres, about half in woods. Had to cut a lot of pine trees to build so it left us with some openness that we've tried to replant with trees in some areas. Here is a pic of the 'backside' of the pond looking toward the back of the house. It needs to be cleaned out, but we've had such ugly weather it's still on the to-do list. The dogwoods didn't do much this year and everything is late. I hope the iris will eventually bloom out as well as the daylilies (I have way too many). We're just outside of Huntsville.

Oh I love the Huntsville area. I have so many fond memories of Monte Santo ! Great place to run. Your pond area is lovely. It is pouring rain here now. We have had 40's at night again and chilly during the day. It is supposed to get up to 82 by Wed...I sure hope so ! The pool is cold again.

Thank you for posting ..you are so lucky to have 9 acres !! c

Thank you, trail, thank you outside, and desert.

Desert. It was essentially done last November, but there is a window rod that has to go up. It's been a low priority because the curtains are so diaphanous it doesn't really matter, but id like it for photos. Plus I am going to train a vine around the doorway and thought id wait for that.

That said, I did take this of the daffodils:

{{!gwi}}

That's lovely! Guesthouse??? I'd live there!

Mtn, the light is different in this photo of the stone house than the others, the trim color looks much lighter and beautiful with the stone. I liked it when it appeared darker, too, in the winter, it is a chameleon building that takes its cues from the seasons! The tulips and cherry tree are magnificent, and the daffodils. I haven't had much luck with daffs, it is just too wet! Our last house had a perennial garden designed by the PO, containing some flowers and colors I would never have chosen. But it was always a reminder that I was just one of many caretakers, and I came to appreciate the variety, and by the time we left regarded those gaudy colors as welcome harbingers of spring.

I came home from a week in Virginia to see these yellow knockouts blooming!

K, don't you live in the north? For some reason I thought you did. Because mine haven't started budding yet because of all the freezes we've had on a weekly basis, and I'm in OK.

The only plants that are blooming are my Dianthus and Spiderwort, but not enough blooms to take a picture.

Today my DIL gave me this Calla Lily. It is so bushy and healthy! I've never grown CL's before, but I'm going to put it in a pot on the front porch. I read they make good potted plants indoors or out, but I want to do it outdoors. If any of you have grown these before, how much morning sun do you give them?

kswl...lovely roses ! I don't have any of the yellow knockouts. I do have other yellow roses. Where in VA were you ? The new Virginia Living magazine came out yesterday and DS1 and his restaurant The Red Hen were voted #1 in the Shenandoah valley ! We were so pleased. DIL had one of her dessert recipes published in the issue also and they were voted #3 for desserts so all around a nice surprise.

oakley don't know about cl's but that is beautiful !c

mtn, absolutely beautiful....love the paint color and the stone of course....what a lovely space!

Trail, congrats to your DS and DIL! ONe of these days I am going to have a reason to get there (I'm a pretty serious foodie and it sounds wonderful!)

KSWL, thanks! Yellow roses are my favorite. I will have a long wait for roses here yet. And yes we love the grey paint.

Thanks, Desert.

Pirula --- not quite a guest house, it is tiny and the nearest bathroom is 100 steps away, by the pool! So far its been used mostly for my girls' sleepovers. I just remembered though, our anniversary is coming up ... maybe we will go there, LOL

Trail, congrats to your DS and DIL! ONe of these days I am going to have a reason to get there (I'm a pretty serious foodie and it sounds wonderful!)

KSWL, thanks! Yellow roses are my favorite. I will have a long wait for roses here yet. And yes we love the grey paint.

Thanks, Desert.

Pirula --- not quite a guest house, it is tiny and the nearest bathroom is 100 steps away, by the pool! So far its been used mostly for my girls' sleepovers. I just remembered though, our anniversary is coming up ... maybe we will go there, LOL

C, I was actually in the Shennandoah valley--- our youngest is in college in Virginia. I completely forgot that your son is a chef in Virginia! DH and I are on a board up there and have meetings twice a year--- I will make reservations the next time I go up. So glad you reminded me!

Oakley, I live in rural Georgia. Normally it gets HOT here by the end of April, but not this year. It is still cold and rainy, and for some reason these drought resistant, full sun knockouts are happy. Go figure...

I don't know why I thought you lived up north. All of my KO's are about 4' tall now. The yellow KO is the newest but I sure hope it goes crazy this summer like it's sisters in pink and red. They sure do like the heat!

Keep me updated on your yellow KO.

All this talk of Virginia makes me homesick. Long story. lol

Mnt...that little house is just SO sweet...I sure hope you will show us all the finished product soon :)

kswl...yep...bah humbug to those that say KO's like drought and heat...ha...mine have never looked better...and as you say it is cold and rainy LOL...

I had NO idea that your son was up there. You better get yourself to the Red Hen pronto :) c

Not cultivated, clearly, but one of our happy spring scenes here is a field of yarrow that is beautiful! These views are along the side of our driveway. We have a couple of distinct areas of yarrow, about three acres of it. It will have to be bush hogged in about three or four weeks, as other, less attractive weeds will slowly win the competition for resources, although it's so wet we will have to wait until it dries up or the tractor will get stuck---- a not uncommon occurrence :-) We rmow the first 20 feet out from the drive every week, and from there it's all up to Mother Nature. Yarrow in the early spring, queen Anne's lace later on, after we've bush hogged a couple of times.

Sorry OT but, trail runner! Did you know Red Hen was written up in the Washington Post food section today?.

kswl..that is gorgeous . I can just imagine the butterflies !

NO pirula !! What in the world..will call DS and find out . Will see if I can find it online. Thank you ! c

Trail runner hope this link works. Otherwise just google Washington Post and put Red Hen in their search box.
Wish I lived near his restaurant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Hen

That's it! Bravo trailrunner jr.!

For some reason I had it in my head that your son's restaurant was in rural Virginia. It's in DC! Whoop! We are soooooo going. DH already reserved Le Diplomate for Mother's Day, but we may go for Father's Day, if not sooner.

Nope...called DS1 and he laughed...they stole the name ! He has been at The Red Hen in Lexington VA for 2 1/2 years. It was open before he made it famous with his Top chef award in Nov 2012 from Cooking Light and this week he was named #1 restaurant in Shenandoah Valley. The people in DC are late to the game :)

Have a great dinner but please come to VA soon to have the REAL Red Hen .c

Uh oh. So I just checked Virginia magazine you mentioned and you son's restaurant IS in rural-y Virginia. Wrong restaurant in Washington Post. Sorry trailrunner. Jeez, who knew there'd be more than one "Red Hen?"

We cross posted. I am in VA, but just outside DC. It's looking like Lexington is at least two hours away.... Wah. But! You never know!

Gosh, c, that doesn't seem kosher--- after all, the owners of the faux hen had to have done a corporation search before they selected the name. Your son should submit something (short article, photo) to WaPo about the real hen... Something funny but brings attention to them.

kswl, love your pastoral scenes! Didn't know you lived in rural GA, but our wildflowers must be similar.

C, I totally got confused on the Red Hen discussion, but congrats to your DH and DIL on their restaurant. If we're up in that area, will be sure to look for the REAL Red Hen. We do have a good friend in Falls Church who seeks out the good places & will travel to them so I'll tell her abaout the article. I don't know about VA restaurants, but in AL, 2 businesses can't have the same name.

Thanks, outside-- love your pictures as well and they do feel familiar, DH is from your state :-)

Re the name--- it's possible one or bothe corporations is DBA. Still, it's not remotely possible the faux hen did not know about the existence of the real one. The connotation of "red hen" is both French and farm/rural. It's a strange name for an Italian bistro in DC, n'est pas?

I don't know what the "rule" is either. But for sure they know about Collin...there isn't anyone who is a chef that doesn't keep up with what is going on all over the place ! Ah well...will see how they do and what the reviews are like after they are open for a while . So far they are really doing well and the reviews are all pretty positive. The menu sounds very good.

outside...hope you and pirula get to make the trip...would love to hear what you think :) c

I am in CT too but a very cold, damp area so everything is later. This week my daffodils finally blossomed and unfortunately the rain beat them down yesterday and last night. :(
One tulip is opening. Bloodroot blossomed and dying off. Dandelions are blooming and right now I am trying to convince myself at least it is color.

We have a local restaurant that was forced to change names because another restaurant already had the name. Id never even heard of the second restaurant, and we eat out a lot, so I think it had to have been fairly far away.

I think they should challenge them to a bake off or a bbq off or some such, unless of course they are chicken. I'd definitely put a bug in WaPo's ear about it.

We're catching up to you a little bit here in Western Mass C...

Ohhhhh..pretty prill:) You have surpassed us !! Now you have to name it all...I know the daffs and the maples and the azaleas,pansies, iris and petunias in the hanging pot...not sure what the others are...so spill !! c

Gorgeous!

Beautiful! Oh yes please! What's that beauty fifth from the bottom with the lighter yellow/green flowers? I think I'm in love.

Pirula, that's called Euphorbia Polychroma or
Cushion Spurge. Not sure what else you missed Carolyn... the last one is ajuga (its a ground cover). The purple one under the maples is a geranium, possibly Johnson's blue. The little white flower is Lily of the Valley. The orange pink shrub under the spurge is a flowering quince... did I miss anything?

It's amazing how fast things pop out once it warm. It's a strange spring up here.

Thank you!

Ah...my ajuga is all done...you close ups are amazing ! I have planted spurge but it never bloomed...hmm...didn't know it would LOL ! I recognized the L of V and the quince. I have/had the wild geraniums but I think most of them are gone...one is still pretty nice but didn't do much this year. OK...now we are ready for some more folks to post. I have a ton of pots that I made...I couldn't resist. Used all things that will come back. Will try and do picks in the next few days...thank you prill ! c

peonypicsfromprill !!! so pretty. I spent hours in the hot sun dead-heading roses !! Will be tons more buds if we keep getting these rains. My big concern is I will be gone for 2 months so who knows how they will be when I get back :(

I LOVE your posiesprill !! :) c

Are you going on another journey?? Where this year?

Here's some of potted plants on the back deck.

everything is gorgeous!

the white lilacs!

and oooohhh those peonies!

dino..that view...those pots...sigh ! Where are you ???

prill...we are going to live in Lexington for 2 months. I haven't posted about it yet. We are leaving next week. Have a small...very small ...furnished cottage on a 1790 fox hunting estate. It is lovely and only 7 miles out of town. We are very excited. Will have to post lots of pics. c

dino, what a view! Beautiful.

That sounds wonderful C. Is someone going to take care of your garden for you? Can't wait to see pics from KY.

Loving all these gorgeous spring flowers.... There is nothing as beautiful as the scenes nature provides us in all areas of the world. With a little help from these talented gardeners, of course !

prill Virginia...not Kentucky LOL! We wanted to be near grand baby :) We have a young man from our church who will cut the grass and water if need be and monitor the pool. His dad and mom own a horticulture business and can advise if need be but he likely will do nothing except basics. So I will have a lot to do when I get back. c

Oh, you said Lexington... I thought Kentucky. So, you'll be north! Glad someone will be there to watch your beautiful house and yard. Send pics.

New grandbabies are great. I have one 15 months old now. Lily Rose.. She's adorable.

I have been enjoying everyones gorgeous gardens and fabulous flower pictures. We finally have warm weather here in Wisconsin. Tulips, daffodills and other early spring flowers have come and gone. Roses,peonies and others are not blooming yet.My flowering trees were a week to 10 days later than normal but as you can see by this one. It was worth the wait.

WOW! badgergal...I should have guessed....my bicycle riding buddy is from Sobeiski ..right outside of Green Bay. He has been in Ecuador and Peru for the past 2 months as he wanted to miss the Winter ! He got home yesterday....looks like just in time. Your tree is gorgeous.

Prill...my baby is 18 1/2 months and is Griffin Evers. We need to pass pics ! c

C, yes, I'll send you a pic. Have a safe trip and a great time with Griffin. Must be hard to live so far away.

Thank you trail runner and pill

Trail runner...I'm in Indiana near indpls.

I love all these flowers. Will have to visit this post this winter.

I am glad you revived this thread dino. Nothing looks as it did in the Spring :) After all the heat of June and all the rain of July we are just getting an unusual Summer flush..small one but still at least the roses have leaves. Will see what Fall brings. Please do post back . c