Heavenly, Heavenly Wisteria

The wisteria is a little late this year because of all the cold wet weather, but since the last few days have been deliciously warm, it has burst out with a mass of purple flowers. You can find me out under the trellis with eyes closed, inhaling deeply.

Outside My Kitchen Window

Happy Spring from here Amongst The Oaks. The Joseph's Coat roses are looking splendid just now. This first flush of blooms will last two weeks and then I'll get a ladder and cut off the spent flowers and we'll get a second bloom and more flowers throughout the summer, but it never looks as wonderful as this first bloom. So I had to share it with you.

That little bed beneath the window has some oregano and chives, but I think I'll plant more herbs there soon. It's so handy to step outside the kitchen for a snip of something. Rosemary grows like a weed, and sage would do well there too. And maybe some parsley, but not basil. We usually plant about 12 basil plants out in the vegetable garden where they get more sun and more water. We do love our pesto.


Thinking of planting and enjoying the roses here Amongst The Oaks.

The Scents of Spring

I just love Spring and some of my favorite things about Spring are the scents. Like these Easter Lilies on the buffet in my dining room. Every time I walk past them I catch a whiff of their delicious scent. Love that.

And my first Double Delight rose opened this morning. Double love that.

And then there are these bright stock flowers with their spicy scent.

And my surprise for the year. I didn't realize Cineraria has such a pleasant scent. I'll be getting more of these.

And of course lilac is still blooming in last weekend's bouquet on the Easter table.

And good old Joseph's Coat covers the south wall of my kitchen. Several blooms are open and it is not only a beautiful sight, but another source of the scents of spring here Amongst The Oaks.

Monday Mosaic - Daffodil Hill

I'm joining Mary at The Little Red House with this Monday Mosaic.

Daffodil Hill

Last Sunday we visited McLaughlin's Daffodil Hill near Volcano, Ca. The newspaper article reminded us and we'd been wanting to go for a long time, so we rounded up the family and headed out after lunch. We drove up Highway 88, turned north at Pine Grove, went through Volcano, and continued on up Rams Horn Grade to the garden.

I had been to Daffodil Hill many years ago as a teen, but the Lord of the Manor had never been. And of course, Teen1, Teen2, and the Muffin had never been either. It did not disappoint.

Paths wander through several acres and thousands of flowers. There is a picnic area, so you could bring your lunch and make a day of it. Or you could just wander and take photos of the flowers. Or just sit on a bench and rest amongst the beauty.

There were several varieties; small ones with orange cups...

big ones with huge orange cups...

and the classic yellow ones.

Some were just opening...

while others were wide open soaking up the sun.

I really liked these ivory ones with pinkish cups...

but these tiny yellow ones were adorable too.

Whichever you prefer

daffodils are truly beautiful and seem to shout

SPRING HAS ARRIVED!

The garden opened April 19th and is at its peak now, so if you plan on going, you'd better hurry. They are open 10am to 4pm, seven days a week until the bloom season is over. Click on the link at the top of the post for more information.

Mosaic Monday Signs of Spring

The weather is starting to warm here and we are hanging linens out in the sunshine, watching the ferns unfurling, enjoying the antics of birds, and inhaling the scent of wisteria. Life is good.

I am joining Mary at the Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

Blog Muggle?

Blog Muggle n: a person who is totally unaware of blogs and blogging

click to see entire photo

Ok, TravelBug, I get the message. I have been a total Blog Muggle lately and I'm sorry. Things seem to be back to normal in my little corner of the world. Well as normal as my corner gets anyway. So I should be able to resume normal blogging now. Let's start with what's been happening here Amongst The Oaks.

The wistaria is starting to bloom right on schedule. We are hosting Easter and I'm hoping it still looks good for the party. You can see more wistaria photos here and here. I have inhaled the intoxicating scent many times in the past few days and it is wonderful. I usually stick my nose into the first flower that opens and I am always amazed at the power of one tiny flower. I wish I could share it with all of you.

The yellow rumped warblers are making their annual visit here Amongst The Oaks. They descend upon the oaks in large numbers, chirping and flitting nervously, and then in about a month, they are gone. This morning I happened to see several in the bird bath and managed to get a few photos.

And the Black Phoebes are back too, building their nest on our front porch. It's over halfway done so we should see some eggs in about a week. They always build it on that electrical box that we use for the Christmas lights. We remove it every fall and they rebuild it every spring. They are again pulling fibers out of my flower baskets to use in their nest, but I don't mind.

click to see entire photo

And the lilac is starting to bloom too. Isn't this gorgeous? I just love love love lilac. I'll make a huge bouquet of it later and bring it inside. I think one reason I love lilac so much is because tit only blooms once a year and that makes the flowers more precious.

Teen1 recently bought this window box for her window. She planted parsley, coleus, lemon thyme, stock, marguerite, and cineraria in it. Isn't she cute?

So that's what's been happening here Amongst The Oaks. Sorry I've been gone so long. Hope to visit you all again soon.

Thanks to Heidi

Isn't the blogging world an amazing place? Just when I think maybe I've said all I need to say and shown all I need to show, someone asks a question or tells me about something cool or suggests an excursion that I must share. Like yesterday when Heidi commented on my wisteria and mentioned a huge old plant near her town. I would never have known about it without the blogging world. So you know what I did? I jumped in the car with the Lord of the Manor and drove right up there to see it. And it was spectacular!

We could see the purple haze way up in the oak tree before we even turned the corner. And after we parked and got out the scent assaulted us. Then walking closer we could hear the drone of bees and the chatter of birds. For several minutes we stood open-mouthed, not speaking or taking photos, simply awed by its size. This ancient plant has climbed at least 40' up the tree and its vines romp through the tree and the flowers cascade through the branches.

click on photos to enlarge

I didn't measure around the trunk, but like Heidi said, I couldn't get my arms around it, so it had to be 24" across at the base. The oak tree was about 30" across for comparison. I wonder how old it is? And I wonder what sort of life the woman who planted had. Because I just know a woman planted it. A man on a small farm would be more concerned with planting crops, and tending animals, and making a profit, but a woman would want a little beauty out there on the farm. And I don't think she intended for it to climb up the oak tree because it's quite a ways from the tree, but somewhere along the line, it found the tree and really took off.

I deperately wanted a chaise lounge so I could lie there for a while absorbing the sights and sounds and smells of that special little world Amongst The Oaks. Thank you Heidi for sharing this treasure.


PS: Next to the oak tree and behind the little fence we found lots of these plants. I think they are black calla lilies (Arum palaestinum) and related to this plant I showed you last June.

Wisteria

Wisteria season Amongst The Oaks.

Perfume hangs in the air

sunlight plays on purple blooms

tender leaves unfurl.

Lilac Season

Lilac season Amongst The Oaks

Not a Tablescape

A springy little vignette I put together for you using my hand-me-down violets and a few treasures I've collected.

Click to enlarge.

Happy Spring from Amongst The Oaks.

Weeping Cherry

I have driven past this tree for about thirty five springs and always admired its delicate pink blossoms. It is a weeping cherry tree and for many years the homeowner also planted daffodils and primroses beneath it. But things change and flower lovers move away and now the tree (not so well maintained) sings the song of Spring alone but still beautiful against the bright blue sky.

Glorious Purple

Edited to add: These are in a cream pitcher and each flower is about 1" across.
Every spring when the violets bloom I collect a bouquet like this. There are over 100 stems in there, and it takes a while, but I love their glorious shade of purple, their delicate scent, and the memories they hold.

These violets were given to me by my dear neighbor Lois one house and many years ago. I've nurtured them through the years, moving them when we moved, and protecting them through the big remodel. And every year they repay me by sending up thousands of these long stemmed beauties. And they always remind me of my sweet neighbor who was so generous with her plant cuttings and her friendship.

Here is another purple flower that is starting to bloom here Amongst The Oaks. I posted frequent photos last year. You can look here or click on "Spring" in my catagories to see more. It is wistaria according that brilliant Lurcher in Cornwall, or wisteria here in the colonies. However you spell it, it is a wonderful plant. We pruned it rather heavily this winter and it is rewarding us with fat blossoms that are just beginning to color. I'll post a photo of it at its best in about a week.

And look at what else is starting to bloom; lilac! I really love lilac and wish I had lots more of it. I have two dependable plants and one not so reliable. But I always have enough to make a bouquet for us and one to share with SisterP at work because she loves spring and lilacs too.

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments yesterday. I think I have Mr. Linky figured out now and I plan to participate in Outdoor Wednesday again.