Spring magic is in full swing just in time for Easter weekend.
The breathtaking Colette roses are blooming like never before.
They took years to take off like this, but it's proven to be worth every week, month and years because they are spectacular this year.
Absolutely dream like in every way.
The High Society rose seems to be in competition, gobbling up the chicken coop in all her floriferousness.
I sat right in this spot this morning and just basked in the magic of spring.
Alliums reaching for the sky.
Wind chimes blowing in the breeze, birds chirping, cardinals chasing each other.
I let the poppies and the Queen Anne's lace do as they please in early spring.
Seeing as how they self-seed, I feel like they truly deserve it.
Just go wild girls.
I adore every second of my wildflower hide away.
Last year at this time I had adopted Poppy and we were trying to come up with a name for her.
We all called her Puppy, so one day when the poppies started blooming, I thought of course, Poppy!
It seemed like a perfect transition from Puppy to Poppy.
Although, Mister Lovee still calls her Puppy, and I do too sometimes.
Along with other nicknames such as Popalara, Popsicle, Mrs. Pickles, and my favorite Periquita, which means Parakeet in Spanish.
All that to say, I already loved Poppies, but now they have a special place in my heart.
Often when I call her Poppy in front of people, like our Fed-Ex delivery gal, people say oh he is so cute.
And I say, Poppy is a she, and they ask, then why do you call her Papi?
I have to say, no not Papi, Poppy.
They look at me perplexed and then I have to say, Amapola, like the flower.
Which is Poppy in Spanish.
So now I sing this song to her all the time.
(Amapola sung by Andrea Bocelli)
When I peek over the wall into our secret garden to see where the pups are all I hear is Poppy's high pitched joyful yelping and some happy growls from Teddy.
Because inevitably...
They are happily wrestling.
All instigated by Amapola about 100 times a day.
She throws him to the ground and nibbles him all over, yelping like a hyena.
It's quite hilarious, but cleaning them up becomes a bit much :-)
Alas, if they are happy, that's all that matters.
And luckily Teddy lets us vacuum him with the dog vacuum hose and a brush attachment, teehee.
And so, those are my current tales from beyond the garden gate into our jungle.
Where poppies sway and crimson camellias bob in the breeze.
The enchantment of this time of year is always inspiring.
The garden is just filled with such hope and joy.
You never know what the new season will bring.
And it seems like each season is a gift that we forget, even though it was only a year ago.
I marvel at all the bright green leaves everywhere, the fresh blossoms.
Almost like I had never seen them before.
Funny how that happens.
Spring after winter is truly the gift of all gifts.
To have a garden again is a dream.
I have been going on long walks around the garden paths at both houses.
Admiring the trees that I have loved for so long.
Forgetting how they canopy like a storybook tale.
Just being in the moment, no phone, no camera.
Although I am glad I took my camera out with me this morning, so that I could capture these images to share with you.
I had written this entire blog post and went to save it and I got an error message and lost the whole thing.
So, writing it a second time, I am sure I have left out so many things that I wanted to say.
But then, perhaps the photos say it all.
I am mesmerized by the dappled morning light, illuminating the beautiful rose petals at first light.
I wait for bees to wake up.
Sometimes I see them sleeping right in the center of a rose or poppy.
Sort of frozen, awakening as soon as the sun hits their gossamer wings.
I hope you are having a delightful spring in your neck of the woods.
I know some of us begin earlier than others.
We must make sure to absorb all the magic this season holds.
Fruit trees in flower and all the other wonderfulness.
I hope to visit with you again very soon.
All my best to you and yours!
Love,
Vanessa