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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Spring!

Don't you just love spring...all the spring flowers popping up and the gorgeous flowering trees and shrubs? It's such a beautiful time of year, probably made more so as all that color comes on the heels of the winter season which is so black and white. 

Here are a few pictures of spring in our backyard.

Crab Apple Blossoms

 The next three images show some of the blossoms on an apple tree in our yard:





Next are two views of the backyard, essentially the same, but taken several years apart:

A view of the backyard - April 25, 2017

Essentially the same view, taken at least 17 years ago

I know the above picture was taken at least 17 years ago because that old satellite dish pole was removed in October, 2000. When we bought the house in 1989, there were no trees in the backyard at all, except for an oak on one side and a maple on the other. We wanted more privacy, so we put in lots of evergreen trees and flowering trees and shrubs. We've enjoyed the park-like feel of the yard over the years, and it's become home to lots of birds, squirrels, and rabbits.

Cut flowers from yard - May 3, 2008

The arrangement of cut flowers pictured above was made of cuttings from some of those trees and shrubs. That spring of 2008, it seemed that everything was blooming at once. On this particular day, Doug surprised me by bringing in these cuttings and arranging them in a vase for me to discover on my next pass through the kitchen. I was so touched by that since Doug isn't usually a very spontaneous guy. But then he goes and does something like this. He's a keeper.


22 comments:

  1. Absolutely gorgeous, Linda!!! Spring is in the air! Thank you so much for sharing.

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    1. Thank you, Linda. Spring is here, but a weather front is bringing cold weather our way again.

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  2. You have such a nice yard It has incredible charm to enjoy. I made a rhubarb pie last night, and have one bag of apples left from last year frozen.I have brought a few tulips to my favorite lady and they do have a nice charm.

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    1. Thanks, Steve. We do enjoy our yard. It gives us so much enjoyment to watch the activity of the small wildlife out there.

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  3. Spring is definitely beautiful in your part of the world.

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    1. It is, George, but I thought it was never going to get here. :)

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  4. Linda, your backyard is really gorgeous! Love those apple blossoms, and the photos are excellent, of course. We like privacy, too, and completely shut off our only neighbors to their disliking. We figure nosy neighbors are to be ignored. lol
    Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Toni. We were originally going to put in a wooden privacy fence, but we're on a corner lot, which comes with restrictions as to where the fence could be placed. No restrictions on trees and shrubs, though. And we've been so grateful that we made that choice.

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  5. Spring in your backyard looks great, Linda. :) I love spring except its ever changing temperatures that do not let us enjoy all the beauty properly...
    Our apple blossoms weren't out when I checked last, I need to take a look as soon as it stops raining. I love those white & pink buds and flowers!

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    1. Thanks, Petra. With all the birds, rabbits, and squirrels, it seems there's always something going on in the yard. And we so enjoy the blooms in the spring. We're getting the rain right now, and it's bringing in a cold front. We'll be chilly for the next several days.

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  6. Spring is the best time of the year, although,I do like all the seasons. Beautiful pictures.

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    1. Thank you, Ruth. I actually enjoy the transition to all seasons, but I'm usually ready to move into the next season before the current one is over. :)

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  7. I bet it smells beautiful in your backyard! Thew yard in our new home has a similar "park" feel and I adore it. It's one of my most favorite things about our new home. The blooming flowers sure are refreshing.

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    1. The blooms are all gone now, Elizabeth; but it was nice while it lasted. You'll have to share some photos from your yard soon. I'd enjoy seeing it.

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  8. Linda, your backyard is so very pretty! I love all of the evergreens and flowering shrubs. I think that apple blossoms are one of the most beautiful fruit blossoms that there are. Peaches run a close second. And what a special treasured memory you have in that bouquet that your husband picked for you and arranged in a vase to surprise you. Yes, I would say he is definitely a keeper.

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    1. Thank you, Dianna. We've been so glad that we did the trees and shrubs instead of the wooden privacy fence. That was all done 28 years ago, and it's probably grown more wild than the next owner will want. But we'll let him worry about that. Those cut flowers are the ones I'd mentioned to you awhile back. That was such a thoughtful thing for Doug to do, and I treasure the memory of it. He's a keeper in so many ways.

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  9. Yes I love Spring, my favorite season. The blossoms are gorgeous. What a pretty backyard

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    1. Thanks, Kim. After a few days of rain and wind, the blooms in the backyard are pretty well gone. But summer will bring more. :)

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