Spring…

I love Spring!!  The beginning of all things new – blooming flowers and trees, new life springing up everywhere.  (Of course, I am blessed to not suffer with allergies so maybe I enjoy it more than others do.)  I love the outdoors – gardening and planting … even though the extra work involved in getting the yard back into shape can be a little burdensome on an already busy schedule. 

But the satisfaction of a hard day’s work and the beauty that comes afterwards are worth it!

I purchased tulip bulbs at Home Depot last year with a Buy one, get one free coupon I got as a member of the Home Depot Garden Club.  I planted them late (mid-January), so was anxious to see if they would actually come up and bloom this year.

They bloomed and were gorgeous!!  I think I will plant them clumped together more next year, but I enjoyed their blooms for a few weeks this spring!

I still have a lot of work to do on this bed (actually it is almost finished now!)  Before and after pictures coming…

My brother gave me this red rose bush for my birthday, and my husband got me 2 white rose bushes for Valentine’s Day.  There are already blooms on them!

   

Spring officially begins for me when ferns are blowing in the breeze on my front porch! :)

 

The fern closest to our front door has been a favorite nesting place for 4-5 years for a family of house finches (I think?).  Even before the ferns are hanging, I can hear the birds chirping outside the door, looking for their nesting spot. 

As soon as I hang the ferns, within 4-5 days the nest is built, eggs arrive a few days later…

And a few weeks later, the babies hatch!  All 5 eggs hatched this time.  (They are actually about 2 – 2 1/2 weeks old here, almost ready to leave the nest!)

The mother bird usually nests 2-3 times during the season, and it is always fun to watch and hear!  (My blogging partner keeps entertained in the window for hours watching the parents come and go, bringing the babies food.)

How does Spring look at your house? 

I am still working in the yard and plant beds (added a whole new bed this year splitting and using plants I already had to fill 90% of it!), but I am almost done!

Will share “finished” and before/after pictures later in the month.   Get your pictures and posts ready, and I will host a All things Spring linky party!