The Wind Did It!

   For the past week or so, the lane has been breathtakingly beautiful.  The azaleas have been in full bloom and putting on quite a show!  The heavenly scent made me want to pause with each walk about the place.  These bushes are as full of memories as they are blooms.  Each one was carefully dug from under the existing azaleas from the old homeplace, from aunts' and uncles' places and from any number of neighbors. The bushes are old...from back in the day when plants were shared and not hastily bought.  Everyone shared!  Even folks you did not know were more than happy to "give you a start" if you admired their yard.  Those were the days, folks.  Those were the days when everyone was kind, giving and helpful.  

  Now, however, like the days gone...the azalea blooms are gone.  For the past two days, stiff southeast winds have plagued the poor flowers.  Most are piled in heaps beneath the bushes instead of gleefully hanging on their stems.  A carpet of pink now lines the driveway.  

  These winds are to be around for a few more days so undoubtedly more blooms, leaves and limbs will come tumbling down.  The yard will need cleaning yet again.  Folks, enjoy things while you can...nothing is permanent and will soon become a memory that will rattle around in the dark, cobwebbed corners of the brain.

Batten Down The Hatches!

   I am sitting here listening to the windows rattle as yet another storm system blows through the area.  Bat, the cat, and I are snuggled down while the storms shake the Little Bayou House.  So far, we have been fortunate with only straight line winds and lots of thunder and lightning.  Tornadic activity is all around us, however, so it is a bit nerve racking, to say the least.  Hopefully, this will pass soon and without much damage to anyone.  It is highly reminiscent of a tropical storm.

  I was out earlier today taking a few photos of the azaleas and spirea.  Neither of these will fare well through this wind.  We were only able to enjoy them for a few days but we DID get to enjoy them.  Life is funny that way.  Things come and go quickly.  Be safe, friends.  Be safe.

Forward Thinking Azaleas!

   Just about a week ago, the temperatures overnight took a nosedive to freezing.  While that may seem like a trivial thing to folks in other parts of the nation, here it is a BIG thing.  We don't do cold.  Well, we do but it rarely comes so we are pretty much unprepared.  Throw a tropical storm at us...we are good.  Throw a hurricane at us...we prepare but we are good.  Throw freezing weather at us...we are not the best.  No one down here in the Deep South are not sure if we should bring in the plants, wrap the pipes and hunker down with the pets or wrap the pets, bring in the pipes and hunker down with the plants.  So...we usually don't do much of anything and hope for the best.  I did pull Bat, the cat, up on the bed with me for extra warmth but those other things were pretty much left to fend for themselves.  Luckily, we still have water with no busted pipes but the plants look a little worse for wear.  Meh...they will be fine in a few days...I hope.

  To go even further with this, our plants do not even know how to react.  We have had two days of sunshine and warm temperatures and, lo and behold, the azaleas have decided it was time to bloom.  Imagine my surprise as I was gathering what my granddaughter calls "firesticks" (twigs for the fireplace), to find several of the azaleas with blooms.  Granted, these were tucked beneath the thick leaves or nestled near the ground covered with leaf litter but they were blooming!  I had to smile as I thought of how Mother Nature was trying her best to brighten my day after the past few gloomy weeks.  Ahh, she knew what I needed!  

  Now that I have spied the blooms, thoughts of starting seeds for the spring gardens are whirling about in the head.  I am definitely my father's daughter as he would have been doing the same.  "We have to build the hotbed tomorrow.  It is time to start the tomatoes, peppers and eggplants." he would say only to hear Mom say "It is too early!  What about that Easter freeze?"  The conversation between Pop and Mom would continue but he would inevitably build that hotbed and sow the seeds....and inevitably, two months later, that Easter freeze would see us scrambling to cover the plants that were already set out in the fields.  Mom would just smile that all knowing smile...

  Easter freeze or not, I am thinking some seeds will be started this week.  I do have the makeshift greenhouse where I can tuck them if need be but I agree with Pop.  Some cold weather makes for hardy plants!  It is early but I am so ready.  Spring?  Nah, just some "forward thinking" azaleas! 

Neglected Yet Thriving

   Short and sweet post tonight as I am purely exhausted.  The day was spent landscaping the side yard where Son and I just poured the concrete gutter drain that ends with Puddle Pond.  After working with concrete, the yard was a mess and needed to be revamped.  That involved transplanting approximately 200 bulbs which is long, hard work.  The end result will be worth the effort so I push through the tiredness.  Son worked on the finishing touches of the "walk-through" herb tower.  That will be a dream come true for me!

  I did take the time to admire the azaleas that have burst forth with blooms this week, I have neglected the poor bushes this entire year but they thrived regardless.  After the blooms are spent, they will get a good trimming and possibly be moved.  For now, I shall sit back and breathe in the sweet aroma and simply ooh and ahh at the loveliness.  Be happy, folks.  

Azaleas...Not Just A Bush...A Memory!

  The weather is quite perfect....if you are a plant.  The warm, foggy nights keep things at just the right condition for plants to grow and grow they are.  As I was out walking the old dog, Mr. PJ, I came across the one part of the yard that is not cluttered with construction material from our ongoing battle with termite damage.  The lane that leads down to the main road is lined with azalea bushes and these appear to be nearing their peak bloom time.  As we meandered in the midst of the bright blooms, it almost seemed to transport us to some mystical, magical place.  Of course, the entire Bayou is sort of a mystical, magical place but when you throw in a whole slew of azaleas that tower above you head, it is perfectly exhilarating.

  Azaleas are often thought to be strictly a thing found in the Deep South.  Our places are dotted with the bushes or lanes are lined with them.  During the springtime, nigh on every yard has at least one bush and most have dozens or even up to hundreds depending on how old the homestead is.  Interesting thing is that these are mostly nonnative plants!  The azalea was first brought to the United States from Asia around 1830.  Word is that a plantation in South Carolina was the first known place to use the bushes in their landscaping.  From that time on, the popularity spread like wildfire and now the azalea has become synonymous with the Deep South.  Granted there are a few native azaleas but none look much like the showy blooms we now know.  

  Another interesting fact is that most locals are quick to share their plants so there is not a lot of need to "buy" bushes.  If you want some, ask.  Someone will definitely have "a few layered".  Most locals know to throw a brick, log or shovel full of dirt on a low lying branch to root them.  If a need arises, there are plenty to share.   In fact, every bush on the place here has come from an old homestead.  My grandparents and parents gave us some as did several aunts and uncles.  Sharing plants used to be the thing to do when a young couple married and set up household.  It is sad that the custom has almost gone the wayside now.

  My mystical. magical place in the midst of the azaleas brought back many happy memories of the folks who supplied our yard!  The sweet scent of the blooms will definitely draw me back down "Memory Lane" a few more times before the blooming wanes.

Maybe Too Soon

  One of the first signs of spring in the Deep South is the blooming of the azaleas.  These bushes will be covered with the hot pink, pale pink, white or red flowers as soon as the temperatures warm the least bit.  Most lanes, driveways and fences are lined with the shrubs on longtime estates.  Azaleas are the epitome of the beauty of the place and are the harbingers of springtime.

  This year, at least on the Bayou, the azaleas have few blooms even though it has been warm for some time.  And it is a good thing.  For the next few nights, we are to have freezing temperatures.  The tight-closed buds should fare out well but the few open blooms will suffer.  By morning, the flowers will be droopy and sad looking.  Then, after this three day cool spell, the temperatures will warm again and the azaleas will show their true colors!

  Usually, the bridalwreath shrub blooms at the same time as the azaleas but, while the azaleas are late, the bridalwreath flowered early.  The tiny rose-shaped flowers burst open a week ago making the front yard glorious!  These clustering flowers that are on long draping branches were at one time used during weddings (hence the name).  The long, willowy branches were often twisted into tiaras for the bride and her maids to wear in their hair.  They were also roped into garlands to decorate the church for weddings.  The snow-white blooms are quite showy and provided beautiful, yet cost free decorating.  My shrub is from a cutting from the old farm.  It has been through so much with a fire, hurricanes and droughts but keeps surprising me with beauty year after year.

  Although this cold spell will put a damper on the blooming shrubs, I say it is not long enough nor cold enough.  I yearn for a good cold winter since it has been years since we have had one.  While others wish for spring, I would love for some winter.  The plants, however, really want no part of this!

Its Here!

  Even though we are experiencing a slight bit of cool weather, I think spring is in full swing here on the Bayou.  That is one thing about living in the Deep South, our seasons seem to have a mind of their own.  We endure our couple of weeks of winter chill, then hop right back into summer.  Mother Nature is fickle enough to drop a few surprises along the way but, for the most part, warm is the word. 

  With that lovely warmth comes a burst of color.  The azaleas and spirea are in full bloom!  With the wisteria and citrus blooms dousing the yard with their heavenly aromas, the color splash blends right into the mix.  Early this morning, I could not help but take a leisurely stroll about the yard instead of the rapid pace hike that usually occurs.  This stroll allowed me to soak up every bit of Lady Spring's glorious contribution to the yard.  She must have worked overtime!  Lord have mercy!  The place is splendid!  

  After dillydallying around in the gardens for a good half hour, my play time had come to an end.  It was time to get back to the grind of staining those flooring boards.  What I imagined would take a couple of days at most has turned into a two week ordeal and I am only half way finished.  Each plank takes six coats of stain and clear finish so my painting hand is getting a workout!  I think tomorrow will find me toting the planks out into the garden so at least I can enjoy the beauty while I work.  Happy (Early) Springtime from the Deep South!

Beautiful Threat

  While the past few nights have been cool with temperatures in the 40s, spring seems to have plopped down upon us almost overnight.  At least, I hope it is here and we have no sudden surprises that will ruin all this gorgeousness.  The citrus trees are in full bloom, as are the plum, peach and pear trees.  The fig trees are all budded and my yard looks amazing!  Well, at least if you do not look where Son and I are doing our construction work, it is pretty.  So if you come to the Bayou, stand with your back to my pile of flooring that is being stained and look at the lovely azaleas!  That is what Mr. PJ, the old dog, did while out strolling about the yard.  He sniffed every azalea bloom in the entire yard, I believe!

  For my whole life, I have been warned that the leaves and blooms of an azalea bush are highly poisonous.  Pop would always tell us to make sure that we never fed any part of the bush to the farm animals.  I pondered this fact since cows do get out of their pens occasionally.  Did one ever get a wild hair notion to sample a leaf or a pretty bloom?  Is that how Pop knew such tidbits of wisdom?  But, I always believed him and eventually passed that bit of information along to my kids. 

   Azaleas are poisonous...enough said.  Still, I can never resist picking a huge bouquet for the living room each spring.  BUT!  Did you know that there is a bit of lore that goes along with the poisonous azalea?  It seems that if you gift someone a black vase filled with the blooms it is as good as a death threat!  Note here...it has to be a black vase.  It cannot be a grimy hand of a sweet child with a few battered sprigs of the blooms nor can it be a pink vase (or white, clear, blue vase or even a bucket).  It has to be a black vase.  So...is it the poisonous azaleas that are the death threat or simply the black vase?  Hmmm?  I ponder...

Down the Lane...

I wandered in a bit different area on my hike this afternoon.  The sun was already starting to set in the west when I headed out but something drew me to my aunt and uncle's place next door.  This was their old home and the property has been vacant for some time.  Being as I spent so much time there with my cousin, Margie, when we were both youngsters, I always felt that it was just an extension of my home.  I still like to mosey around once in a while even though the homestead is no longer there.  As I rounded the bend that would take me down what used to be their lane, I suddenly got a whiff of something delightful!  A sweet scent wafted among the southerly breeze and told me that the azaleas were in bloom.  At one time the lane was part of my favorite walk as it was lined with all sorts of wonderfully blooming shrubbery.  Each season brought a different bit of interest whether it be in the form of flowers, huckleberries, roses, or holly, cedar and pine!  The lane was almost magical!

Today, the azaleas were just starting to bloom.  Even though hedgerow is now covered with vines and fallen trees, it was still a thing of beauty.  Those bushes were trying their best to bring for the blooms that have always been associated with the long driveways of the Deep South.  Old oak trees dripping with Spanish Moss would form a canopy making the lane feel almost like a tunnel.  The sides of the lanes were always lined with azaleas in colors of red, hot pink, pale pink and white.  My aunt and uncle's drive could have been one from some long-ago plantation home.  I could not help myself!  I picked a large bouquet of the blooms to take home with me!  The azaleas at my place are just starting to show their colors with the buds still tight closed.  Perhaps this is due to them being much younger plants or perhaps because mine are more in the open and subject to the cold.  Truth be told, my bushes are actually "babies" from the huge bushes down this lane!

Once home, my lovely bouquet was placed in Grandmother's crockery milk pitcher!  There is just something so comforting about the memories that the flowers and crocks evoke!  Ahh...tiny bits of home..of a time past..of family....what more could one ask?

Why April is late this year!

Today was supposed to be Thursday..not Friday! I need another day this week as I will never accomplish all that I wanted to do by this point in time. I blame it on April being late this year! For all of you who do not know..April is definitely later in arriving this year. This is not because of any astrological or astronomical anomaly but just sort of an inside joke between Sweet Daughter-in-law and me! During one of our lengthy conversations (this particular one about when Easter happens to occur this year) a minor slip of the tongue made April and not Easter be late in the Calendar year. So April is late..today is Friday not Thursday..and I have not done all I wanted this week.

Now that the timeline is established, it explains why I was out trimming with the weedeater as Son cut the grass. If I had known it was Friday, I honestly would have paid the bills, picked up milk from the store and stopped at the Post Office to mail a package. But..I cut grass! As I was trimming near the clothesline, I noticed a small cluster of mushrooms that I had not seen before. I had to take a picture! The weedeater was tossed to the wayside and the camera was whisked into play! Now, some people stop to smell the roses. Some people brake for turtles. I will stop everything if I see anything to photograph. I was down on my hands and knees trying to get the best angle to photograph the entire mushroom when Son stops his mower and calls to me. "Hey, are you alright?" Alright???? I just found a mushroom! That answered that question!! He shrugged his shoulders and continued on pushing his mower. These little mushrooms look like they were dusted on top with a coating of frost. That could never be since it was a good 70 degrees...hmmm.

Since the weedeater was in the process of taking a nap, I meandered the garden! The Azaleas brightened the area immensely and sent a sweet aroma wafting on the breeze! I think these have to be some of the most vividly colored flowers on the planet! I have heard all sorts of rumors of how these bushes may be poisonous. Some say they are highly toxic..to everything. Others tout that they are only poisonous to cows, horses and sheep but not dogs and cats. Then, out of the blue, I find that in Korea they make wine from the blossoms! Perhaps the dogs and cats are just smart enough to not drink the wine..and perhaps the horses, cows and sheep just have hangovers. Personally, I think I will just enjoy them visually and not go ingesting any.

Just to prove my point about April being late this year..the first picture of the Azaleas was taken on March 26th of this year. I took several today, but on March 26th, the Azaleas were already in full bloom. The second picture was taken last year on April 9th. That is several weeks different and considering that Azaleas only bloom for at the most two weeks, the bushes bloomed early this year..or if you have a twisted sense of perspective..April is late! I am quite sure it has something to do with the moon...hehe!