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may 10 slideshow: apple blossoms, fern croziers

by margaret
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lilacs and apples closerIPLANNED ANOTHER SLIDESHOW of what’s blooming here, the third weekly installment since spring 2011 started taking hold. And then…my camera angrily decided against it this morning, as I headed out to document the latest arrivals. Off to the shop it goes. Thankfully, a loaner is en route from a friend–and I had taken a few photos yesterday that will have to tide us over. That big cloud above is made of apple blossoms, and there are fern croziers and the start of the lilacs, too. Enjoy!

Click on the first thumbnail to start the slides, then toggle from one to the next using the arrow keys on your computer or the arrows beside each caption.

tiny-narcissus-bouquets
What follows that first big burst of color as the Narcissus move past peak, with all the early and midseason ones spent, and the big white magnolia beyond them outside the kitchen window goes brown? The was a lull for about 10 seconds before the apples and pears and other cloudlike trees began, and a golden perennial or two chimed in.
lilacs-and-apples-closer
Though probably a century old, the remaining apple trees on this old farmland are 40-plus feet across and much taller than my house, meaning great white clouds in years like this when bloom is plentiful because the weather cooperates. Syringa vulgaris, among my earliest lilacs, is halfway open on the near right.
apple-blossoms-2
A detail of one of the apple trees’ blossoms.
fothergilla-major
Closer to ground level than the apples, but no less heavenly in its way, the woodland shrub Fothergilla major is doing its thing now, too, in a semi-shaded spot. I love this plant for its extra-late fiery fall color, too.
fronds
Not a bloom, exactly, but then ferns predate the appearance of flowering plants on the earth, so this is as close as they come visually: spring’s amazing show of unfurling croziers, as in these ostrich ferns, Matteuccia struthiopteris.
euphorbia-polychroma
I love the neon brashness of euphorbias in general, and especially Euphorbia polychroma, the cushion spurge. It overlaps with some late Narcissus as if to carry on the earlier gold the daffodil predecessors provided.
chipmunk-peekaboo
And then there is this particular bumper early 2011 crop: chipmunks. I have never seen more, or bolder ones. Peekaboo, anyone?
Categoriesslideshows trees & shrubs
  2. Fred says:

    Love the apple blossoms. I have a bunch of cherry blossoms in waiting in my front yard here in Nova Scotia. If only it would stop raining and warm up. Ugh!

    Our 79th annual Apple Blossom Festival kicks off up here on May 25th. I’m linked to the website if anyone wants to take a look. ;)

    Reply
    1. Margaret says:

      Thanks, Tamara, and welcome. Euphorbia always cheers me; what a glowing thing it is. Hope to see you soon again.

      Reply
  4. Terryk says:

    The garden looks perfect, don’t know how you keep up. With every slide show I see another shrub I want. Is this one fragrant?

    Reply
  5. tigress says:

    beautiful! btw – the chipmunks on my property are pretty much sitting down to have a cup of tea with me at this point! :)

    Reply
  7. Kathy says:

    Very Nice Margaret, I live in central MN and our trees are showing a few leaves today.
    My tulips are blossoming though, I wish they would last longer. My Lilac bush has not even blossomed yet. It’s finally Spring here. :-)

    Reply
  8. Brenda says:

    Very nice pics margaret. I just love your patio too. Do you happen to have any specifics on it? What kind of rock for the retaining walls? Is the middle of it a gravel type bed?

    Reply
  12. kristi says:

    Our lilac bloom has been disappointing this year (as if a lilac can be disappointing). Maybe I was spoiled by last year’s spectacular display, which was nearly 3 times that of this year.

    Reply
  13. Joan says:

    I don’t have room for an apple tree so I drive around, camera in tow, and take pictures of other people’s trees. They seem particularly lush this spring, as does yours.

    Reply
  15. tilly says:

    Beautiful .. It takes my breath away to look at the pics..I can only imagine what it must smell like….You have achieved greatness and lasting beauty in creating a paradise on earth….

    Reply
    1. Margaret says:

      Welcome, Tilly. It’s that magical time of year…and then it will all be gone and there will be deadheading galore instead! :) But yes, lovely now, and so fragrant. Hope to see you soon again.

      Reply

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