Happy first day of Spring, everyone! Yahoo! Though the calendar is giving this official announcement, there’s only a little evidence of it at 8,500’. The grass is turning green a little around the edges, the sun is shining with a gentle breeze but no flowers have popped out yet. They still seem asleep. They’re smart. They know how fickle the weather can be at this time of year. Just when you start settling in to think no more winter, here come the snowflakes.
Here are some photos of flowers I planted last year on my deck and a spring shower rainbow. Maybe, that will help us hold on until birds start chirping, the days get warmer and there’s no longer a potential for a cold blast of winter. I’m truly looking forward to it. Enjoy and hope it stirs the feeling of spring and what’s soon to come.
Deck Flowers @ Pat Ruppel
Gardenia © Pat Ruppel
Rainbow © Pat Ruppel
Petunias © Pat Ruppel
More Deck Flowers © Pat Ruppel
Pat from the ol’ kitchen table
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Your little flower gardens are so pretty. The weather is confused…warmer days are on the way. We are moving up to the old homestead this Saturday. Bit of a drive to town, but I am looking forward to the country lifestyle. Thank you Pat for a welcoming Springtime post!!
Thank you, Susan. I agree on the weather being confused. It no longer seems as predictable that’s for sure.
I’m so happy for you on your move to the country. I don’t know if you plan to post something about it on your site as it’s not in Italy. I sure would like to hear how it works out for you and see some photos if you care to. What an adventure and just in time for spring. Happy moving and have a great weekend, my friend. Don’t get too worn out. 🙂
Gorgeous photographs of beautiful spring colour Pat, to warm our hearts. Your spring will be here very soon and renewed colour will explode for you once more on your deck. The rainbow is beautiful. I love rainbows, they always bring such hope of God’s promise that He is watching over us and blessing us even when we might feel weighed down and downcast. We look up and around us and there! Such gifts of nature to put us back on our feet again and energise us for the day.
Happy spring my dear friend and may you enjoy a beautiful weekend, no matter the weather (but I hope it warms up for you very soon 🙂 ) x
Thank you, Sherri. You’re right — it won’t be too long. I can’t wait and your post got me itching to get out and get started planting but I know it’s too soon. It does feel good to breathe in the fresh warm air and appreciate nature like you mentioned. It is a blessing. Happy spring, my friend, and hope you have a blessed weekend. 🙂
I so love spring and all it’s glory. We are experiencing an early spring due to the drought in California. it was really very sad when I drove through the Central Valley and witnessed dead orchards and brown fields and hills.
I do too, Susan — love spring. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. I’ve heard how bad the drought has affected California — I’m so sorry. It must be heart breaking to see what was once green and thriving now dead and brown. The weather has been crazy all over the US in different ways. I hope it settles down soon so people can recover.
Those are joyful photos Pat. We’re in the lucky position of having lots of spring flowers – banks of daffodils, crocuses and trees already in blossom. I hope you begin to have a real spring soon.
Thanks Andrea. It won’t be long. This time of year there’s a battle that goes on between spring and winter.
The other day we had temps in Denver close to 70 degrees and just yesterday we had a couple inches of snow. Spring will finally win out and then the trees will bud out and flowers immerge. Don’t you just love it! 🙂
Oh yes, we had a whole mixture today – lovely spring sunshine, bitterly cold winds and a brief sprinkling of snow!
I know, Andrea, we get the whole mixture, too. I love it. I can feel the stirring of life coming awake and a freshness in the air. 🙂
I was finally able to connect to your site! I love the flowers especially the daisies (one of my favorites) Spring might finally be arriving here and today I spotted the first green peeks from my daffodils and watched a robin at play. The world is right again. 🙂
P.S. I love the new look of your blog.
It’s so good to see you again, Lois. It’s been way too long and I apologize for any technical loading issues you may have experienced. I’ve been trying to make things load faster but may have created just the opposite. Hope it wasn’t a problem. Let me know if you have more issues.
I’m glad to hear that Spring is finally arriving there. You’ve been hammered this winter. I like seeing those first hints of life poking up from the ground and the birds have been arriving and have begun to kick things into gear. Daisies are one of my favorites too.
I look forward to seeing you again. I’ve missed you and glad to see you writing again on your blog and I’m happy you liked the new look over here, too. Thank you. 🙂
Pat, I missed you too. I always find myself smiling at your subjects and the way you write. It loaded just fine last night for me. I keep considering a self hosted site but then back off fearful I still don’t know enough to keep it running properly.
I too noticed the daffodils trying to poke through, unfortunately I planted more tulips than daffodils not realizing the deer find them to be a gourmet treat. I spent all day outdoors today as it was gloriously warm (60) but still have to wait to play in the field and gardens as it’s still too wet to risk getting stuck. 🙁 Soon though.
Hi Lois — it’s good to see you back and smiling. I’m glad you didn’t have any problems getting on and really pleased the stories make you happy. I’m technically challenged, too, on some things, when it comes to my site. I know there’s so much more I could do to improve performance but that will have to wait another day, when I can hire someone to check it out.
Because of our elevation, we’re a little behind in things waking up and popping out, although I do see the irises have green shoots coming up. That’s the one thing the deer tend to leave alone. Also, noticed the voles have been active all winter with signs of mounds and holes throughout the yard. So happy you got to spend the day outside. Don’t you just love feeling the warmth of the sun after being closed in for so long. Here’s hoping you’ll be out there soon working in your gardens. 🙂
Oh Pat the deer, while I love them are a real challenge when it comes to wanting to see flowers or grow food. I was so disappointed to see they love eating tulips. Although since they love the hostas so much they also drop pieces around the seating area where they are planted so where I started with 2 plants I now have 9 different areas with healthy hosta growing. 🙂
I do love the feeling of the sun on my body. Today we all have sun-kissed faces, I think we all look healthier with the glow it leaves behind.
Hope you have a lovely day, Pat and are enjoying some sunshine yourself.
I agree, Lois. They’re a real challenge. I’ve had to take to planting flowers in hanging baskets and planters on my deck while still experimenting with what they’ll leave alone in the flower beds. Not much luck there yet — even have to put fencing up around the lilacs, as they’ll eat the leaves budding out before they even get a chance.
Enjoy the warmth and sunshine, Lois — soak it all in. Have a great day! 🙂
:Pat, I had good luck with hanging old CDs and DVDs to keep the deer away. The spinning and reflection of light off of them scare the deer and we even found the bunnies left our salad greens alone. I used a piece of clothes line but you could try fishing line which would be a bit more invisible.
Thanks Lois. Sounds like you’ve gotten pretty imaginative in keeping deer and bunnies away. It’s trial and error for sure. 🙂
Oh, how I love the rainbow & petunias! Looks like a gorgeous area you live in 🙂
Thank you, Mary, it is — although, it’s snowing now (8″ +). More water for the flowers. 🙂
Hi Pat, greetings from Montreal, Canada. Your photos are just gorgeous!!! Wow!
Hi Linda — Welcome and thank you. I’m happy you liked the photos and stopped by to visit. I like the similar theme of your site where you invite your visitors to grab a cup of tea or coffee and sit for a spell. Looks like we’re on the same wavelength and have something in common.
I hope you’ll come back for another visit to share some kitchen-table stories. You made my day. 🙂