Monday, February 21, 2011

The Promise of Spring


Today was gray, rainy, and a bit on the chilly side.  Not atypical weather for Maryland in February, but always a bit of a let down after the warm sunny days we had last weekend.  Even with the crazy winds, it was still jacket wearing weather instead of coat weather most of last week.  Tonight much of Maryland may get snow!




Even though it was drizzling, Mr. Tide and I ventured out and took Mr. Quinn and Misty Belle out for a ride and some socialization at a local college.  Kids away at college love seeing animals.  I think it reminds them of home and  maybe their own pets, so it's a wonderful place to take a puppy to get exposed to lots of different people.  They ooh and ahh over puppies and tell you all about their own dogs, which I love hearing about.




As we pulled back into our driveway this evening I looked at my brown and neglected flower bed.  It's a huge bed and it looked so sad and lonely, with not an ounce of color to be found besides brown, and more brown.  Not that long ago it had looked like the photos above, full of color and overflowing with flowers.

I bought tiny Lantana plants last year on sale for $1.99 each.  They were in 6 inch pots and I planted a few in the front bed for some added color.  They looked sort of silly really, they were so small and there was a lot of space between each plant.  Within a month or so they had taken over the flower bed so I was thankful I hadn't planted them any closer.  By the time the frost hit last fall they had grown to nearly 6 feet in diameter...that's per plant!  When we would pull into our house I would jokingly refer to them as the blobs that ate NY.

I saw some songbirds today returning and that gives me hope.  Hope that in just a few short weeks the promise of spring will be fulfilled.  That daffodils, cherry blossoms, and tulips will all be making an appearance.  It's a promise I look forward to each year!


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20 comments:

  1. Kat, these photos are SO gorgeous!! Just beautiful! I am really looking forward to spring right now!

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  2. Spring has hit NC too! No rain here today, but there was wind. The weather was warm and absolutely lovely!

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  3. Well your photos are just amazing Kat,
    I LOVE them !
    Spring is just around the bend....making sure that all is right and in place....we need it perfect right?

    xo kelley

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  4. My Lantana has new buds so yours will return soon. Hang on- spring always returns : D

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  5. The colours - I'll have to put that plant on my list and see if it will grow here. I am craving hot colours!

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  6. Aspettiamo con ansia la rinascita della primavera!
    Un post bellissimo!
    Lucia

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  7. The lantanas are beautiful, and you are right - they are fast growers and love the sun.

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  8. Lantana is so pretty, and it reminds me of my childhood home. It's lovely the people you meet when dog walking, and even lovlier when yu can brighten someones day.

    Cheers,
    Lisa x

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  9. Latana is beautiful. Ohhhh I long for spring. It can't come fast enough for me ~ ;-)

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  10. I need spring too. Very much. Your photos are great!

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  11. Such beautiful photos! I can't wait to see what lies beneath the snow in my gardens. You've got me dreaming of springtime!

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  12. Sometimes a plant
    and a spot in the
    yard are a marriage
    made in heaven!!!
    This was obviously
    the case here ~ WOW!
    Gorgeous pics, Kat.
    xx Suzanne

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  13. Your flowers are beautiful Kat! I hope you didn't get snowed on and it is warming up for you again. It snowed here Sunday and Monday but now the sun is out. :) What a win-win thing to take the dogs to the college, social time for them and a warm and fuzzy distraction for the kids! I hope you are doing well!! Hugs!
    xoxoxox

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  14. I also am QUITE tired of winter!! That wind on Saturday about did me in, thanks for the shot of color which is a promise of warmer weather to come

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  15. Love those close-up shots! Makes me want to lean into the computer screen to smell those flowers.
    xo Cathy

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  16. Your lantana photos are beautiful. I think they are such pretty flowers and have the bonus of attracting butterflies, which is nice.
    Our weather in NC is feeling very spring-like and I am so enjoying the birdsong in the morning.

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  17. Lantana and catnip seem to be what I grow best. Great pictures!

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  18. I love lantana...it reminds me of my childhood. We had lots of it in our flower beds...and I have it here in Florida, too! Lavender lantana! Your photos are so sharp and colorful! ♥

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  19. We have lantana's that grow all over the yard on their own! We didnt plant them! But Id like to relocate them. I tried digging one up last year & moving it, but it died. Any suggestions?

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  20. A welcome break from the view outside my window right now. Even in the dark, it's all lit up with white snow. *big sigh* xo ~Lili

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