So we're sitting around yesterday evening with our cold drinks admiring all the hard work we've put it- this yard was less than a pasture in '07.

I've always loved afternoon light best- it just feels so relaxing and calming to me.

But I always heard that if at all possible I should use red maples and/or ornamental grasses toward my western view so that the sun setting behind them would shine through. I've abandoned larger ornamental grasses as they are thugs, but the maples I can do.

So heavy rain overnight, afternoon sun, a freshly mown lawn and I'm just blown away by the light. Of course it kept shifting and I'd tell the photo taking husband "Now, now" and he'd fumble around and the sun went behind a cloud and he missed it. Over and over.

And apparently our photography skills are lacking as we tried to capture that moment of light- the huge photo was impossible to see detail so I'll post a couple of cropped versions. We were really far away and too tired to get up, so excuse that.

And I know a couple look overexposed and almost hurt to look at, but they best capture the nature of the light we were so amazed by.

It was all just so glittery and gorgeous, I couldn't stop being happy- I love my yard!

All I can say is if you have a view toward the west and can find a spot to stick a red maple, do it.

You won't be disappointed.

You can't see that well in the photo below, but way back by the fence is a Cercis 'The Rising Sun' with a Fireglow Japanese Maple behind it- this is the most stunning combo I have. I'm having to keep the Cercis low until the Fireglow gets some age on it and clears the fence, but in time the Fireglow will show better, I promise.

Darker toward the right is Acer palmatum 'Nigrum' , not a popular choice but the first JM I ever bought and it was a 6 inch stick- she's gorgeous year round.

Below is a little 'Crimson Queen'- ubiquitous for a reason, lol.

Again here, maybe you can see my future vision of Fireglow behind The Rising Sun in the background right above that dog's head.

Way to the left is 'Red Dawn.'

And below is not backlit, but my south bed, first time in three years my Crape Myrtles get to fully leaf out the first try with NO late freezes.

And another The Rising Sun just because the yellow stands out so nicely, not yet finished leafing out.

I absolutely hate posting photos of my yard/garden because my "lawn" is so weedy and patchy. But we bought this property to have room for our dogs and they simply allow us to garden around the perimeter of their playground. So my"lawn" is what it is and shall remain so- if it's green and it grows I'll take it.

Just for fun, here is the yard we bought in 2007- not bad for two senior citizens whose four hands have done every single thing except take down a few trees.

I'm just overwhelmed with my spring happy dance this year!!