The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for him there.
– George Bernard Shaw
During winter when you are dreaming of your spring blooms, you can’t wait for warm weather. You look out the window to a view of your garden. Every sign of green makes me happy. For many of us, just working in the garden can be a joy in itself.
The weather has been changing in the last few weeks. We had a warm spell and the temperatures went up to 83 degrees F. Then a cold front came down and the high was 59. Now I know all you in 4 season climates are thinking my cold spell isn’t really cold. If you lived in Florida for several years, your body acclimates to hot weather. When I moved to Miami from Tennessee in my 20’s, I laughed when Floridians were so cold in January. Two years later I found I had joined them. Life is funny some times.
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For the last month, we’ve had lots of rain here in Central Florida. The storms come onto land from the Gulf of Mexico. It doesn’t rain all day but by afternoon or early evening the heat drives moisture into the air and the showers come a shore. In between, we have blue skies although there are sometimes darker looking clouds lingering in the sky. Here are a couple of shots of the skies above a lake in the area.
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Sometimes life gives you a gift of the perfect shot, the composition of a neighborhood scene down a long street with a sunset and your favorite love, antique cars. Maryce takes photos of old cars whenever she sees one. This day last week it came with a neighborhood view with the horizon filled with the colors of the sun setting. Thanks for sharing Maryce! I just love this photo and am proud to share it.
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Many people enjoy observing wildlife in their gardens. Several years ago I wrote about attracting pollinators to the yard. First there was a post on bringing honey bees into your garden. Lots of different plants were discussed, but if you need a refresher, hardy salvia, lavender, and rudbeckia are all great additions. The second part of the pollinator series was a post on how to make a Butterfly Garden . Now let’s talk about birds.
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Today I’d like to take you on a drive. I want to get out and enjoy a beautiful day. I like to see the landscaping around residential communities. Palm trees, bushes, and flowers are usually there. Most of today’s photos are from a condo neighborhood.
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If you’re lucky enough to have outside space at home, are you making the most of it? At this time of year especially, it’s so nice to get into the garden whether it’s to entertain friends, make memories with the family or just to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet by yourself. We all need a spot in the garden for a morning or evening drink. A place to sit and read or just relax and enjoy the view. When the weather is nice, the garden essentially gives you another ‘room’ in your home to enjoy. Here are a few ways you can create or improve your special space and make the most of your garden.
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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! I’m wishing you good luck and happiness today. This last week has been incredible in the amount of snow that hit the country. Many of us are wanting spring while nature gives us more winter. Here in central Florida we had high 80s degree weather last week. This week the cold front came down and Wednesday was in the 50’s F. I know that is not cold to most of you but it was to me. The sky started out gray with cold rain. Later the sun came out. I know that eventually the weather will start to warm up everywhere. When the sun shines brighter and little green things poke their heads out of the soil, it’s the perfect time to bring your garden to life. Create a vibrant outdoor space to enjoy throughout the summer. Though, it’s important to remember that nature doesn’t rush its processes. As Lao Tzu once said, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” Take the time to plan your garden layout, choose the right plants, and incorporate the elements that will make it beautiful and functional. Several years ago, I shared basic garden landscaping ideas and printables. They’re great to use when you want to update your garden too.
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