SUNDAY STROLL - HERE AND THERE

Picking up where I left off the other day with our patch of little wild Iris lets head on over to the strange---
I discovered this odd looking growth on a small pine trunk. Some parasitic alien thing which circles the tree, but doesn't seem to be harming it at the moment.
Phlox shinning on a little hill.

Sweet shrub is blooming.

Hosta is filling in for the summer and soon will give the daffodils rest and shade taking the eye away from the daffy stems which are dying back.

The evergreens were wonderful touches of green relieving the tiresome dull grays of winter and now are setting their new growth.

The side of the garage is garnished with the sweet smell and sight of Lily of the Valley.

Bluets and cinquefoils make pretty ground cover.

My winter over plant started blooming a month ago and has been back on the front porch for a week or so after living in my sewing room during the winter.

Everywhere I look there are sights and sound that catch my attention and send me off in every direction trying to see and experience everything all at once. Silly me. I think I know better. I will slow my pace, settle down to one thing at a time and enjoy the leisure of being in the moment.

Follow me for other strolls at The Quiet Country House.

MINIATURE BEAUTIES

Wildly elegant and gracefully formed these little Crested Iris are charming all who catch a glimpse of them on the forest floor. I think they look like royalty visiting and being seen by the likes of all us ordinary folks.

SUMMER VISITORS ARRIVE

We were so delighted to welcome back our summer visitors last Friday. The boys are back in town. Hummingbirds, that is. It seems to me the men folks get here first and scout and secure their territory. I glimpsed one zipping in and out of the Japanese Maple, possibly checking for nesting sites. I expect the ladies to show up soon. They will have final say on the best place for nesting.

You may have to enlarge the picture to see both fellows. One is up on the feeder support.

SUNDAY STROLL - THIS IS APRIL IN TENNESSEE

What an eyeful of beauty we found as we drove down off the mountain into Cookeville. Redbud Trees are wild everywhere along roads and as landscape features in view all over the city. They are truly Eye Candy.

Still a favorite with many are the lovely Dogwoods, the charming understory trees that are coming into their glory right now.

Also blooming abundantly are the heralds of a May 4th election. Most disappearing in just a few days after voting has finished.

Saturday we had a clean up day at church. There were busy folks inside and out. Here is the results of serious pruning and weeding in the Meditation Garden. I was one of the farmhands here. The burn pile in the back ground took care of the Privet that wants to devour the garden. Annuals will fill in around the new perennials yet to be bought.

It fills in nicely over the growing season. I forgot to take my camera yesterday to record all the busy folks doing their part. So today before church I quickly took pictures of the results so far. The garden is an on going project.

Heading home there were more wonderful signs of Tennesseans making their home sites pretty as pictures.

More and more people are choosing to landscape with Pink Dogwood. They are so pretty.

I'm quite fond of pink myself and here is how we choose to welcome guest with our traditional Bleeding Hearts.

I know the plants will die back when the flowers finish, but that's o.k. with me. They are so stunning while they bloom.

Here in our backyard the Dogwood are still small and cream colored. As they mature and grow a little more they will be snowy white before they set their crimson berries.

Taking it all for granted is KiKi.

Have you already strolled with Aislings strolling friends? If not head on over to her place and see who else is strolling.

PICTURE THIS - TRAILING ARBUTUS

The Trailing Arbutus

I wandered lonely where the pine trees made

Against the bitter East their barricade,

And, guided by its sweet perfume,

I found, within a narrow dell,

The trailing spring flower tinted like a shell

Amid dry leaves and mosses at my feet.

From under dead boughs, for whose loss the pines

Moaned ceaseless overhead, the blossoming vines

lifted their glad surprise,

While yet the bluebird smoothed in leafless trees

His feathers ruffled by the chill sea-breeze,

And snow-drifts lingered under April skies.

As, pausing, o'er the lonely flower I bent,

I thought of lives thus lowly, clogged and pent

Which yet care and cumber, coldness and decay,

To lend a sweetness to the ungenial day

And make the sad earth happier for their bloom.

John Greenleaf Whitter

EASTER SUNDAY RIDE (STROLL)

Happy Easter

Coming home from church today my eyes were filled with the glorious colors

and signs of spring and I was reminded of the words of the song which sings

'And the glory of the Lord shown all around, all around'

'and the glory of the Lord shown all around'
`````````````````````````````````````

For a other strolls head on over to Aisling's.

GOOD FRIDAY- METAPHOR

And the day came when the risk it took

to remain tight inside the bud

was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
Anais Nin

What a wonderful metaphor for the mental struggle Jesus had when confronted by the horror of the cross before the glory of resurection. (Matthew 26:39 )