Spring at the Loyd Homeplace

Spring officially arrived a few days ago. We haven't yet begun to plant our garden, so I thought I'd feature some of the lovely plants that adorn our yard.

It will be a while before this Nandina comes into flower, so why not enjoy the berries from last year's flowers? (Should you use a question mark on rhetorical questions?)

These violets may be in a planter, but they actually volunteered. With a little help from some birds, perhaps.

The redbud is one of my favorite flowering trees.

Since we had timber cut two years ago, we can see from the house all the way to our pear trees.

We were in hopes that these delicate blossoms could avoid frost damage this year, and it looks like we'll get our wish.

This is one of the maples I transplanted from the swamp many years ago. Three of them grace our backyard and field. They're almost big enough for climbing!

The jonquils in the next two photos have a long history. About 1977, these were on the Farm Life School campus. Tennis courts were about to be constructed in their location and Dr. Brock generously said I could did up as many as I wanted.

At that time, Judy and I lived in Colonial Heights in Aberdeen, and some of these dressed up our small yard. And in 1978, when we moved to our current location in Murdocksville (near Pinehurst), we diligently re-dug each bulb. Seeing their splendor this spring makes me glad we took the time.

Same shade of yellow, but this is Forsythia, in Judy's prayer garden.

Adjacent to the prayer garden are two beautiful camellia bushes. One red. . .

one pink.

The next two photos are Flowering Quince.

It's also called Hogapple, because of its small fruit (that I guess hogs like). Which name do you prefer?

We have two bodacious bushes of First Breath of Spring. A single sprig of it can fill a room with an aromatic fragrance. The flowers don't show up as well with these leaves, but in early February, it was ALL flowers, NO leaves.

We think the delicate plant below is Baby's Breath. But we're not sure. Can you help us?

Or maybe this is Baby's Breath. Hmm. Anyway, we like it.

We may think of spring as a growing time, but there are always reminders that the cycles of nature are continuous, whether it is those of life and death, the seasons, of regeneration.

During a recent high wind, the top of this dead tree fell, near the road. I had observed a woodpecker nesting in in last year. Standing dead trees serve a vital purpose in God's design. They provide homes for both insects and some birds. And of course, those same insects get eaten out of house and home by the birds.

But I'm happy to report that a large portion of the dead pine tree remains, with ample cavities for woodpeckers to continue to utilize.

Much more will be springing forth in the weeks to come, some from our garden, and much more from "the wild things." April is upon us tomorrow, then Easter this Sunday, and it's a wonderful time to thank God for His perfect design of all these natural wonders we enjoy. Spending time outdoors, reflecting and contemplating the works of His hands, is the best way never to take these things for granted.