May 06, 2013

This post is SO yesterday

vinca

I can't keep up. As soon as I snap a photo, it's out of date. Things are changing moment by moment in the garden now.

As I've glanced out the window and passed by at various points during the past few days, the Shagbark Hickory buds have opened before my eyes.

hickorybud1

hickorybud2

hickorybud3

hickorybud4

Pretty dramatic, huh?! And that last photo is now out of date.

Other captures that are seriously passé:

lilyvalley

The Lilies-of-the-Valley are now starting to bloom.

hyacinth

The Hyacinths are a pleasant memory.

hellebore

The Hellebores are still lovely, but fading.

sedum

The Sedums are larger and spreading.

redbud

And these Redbud branches, captured at dusk last night, are just about to burst into their full glory.

I surrender. I'm taking a bit of a break from posting. In the meantime, I'll be visiting other blogs and snapping a few photos. Otherwise, you can find me in the garden. I'm way behind on chores ... and way behind on taking it all in and living in the moment. The moments are passing way too fast!

hickorytree

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As some of you are aware, I'm teaming up with Viaggi di Gusto to plan an Italy Garden Tour for you in mid- to late June 2014. This trip is open to anyone who's interested, with a specific focus on gardens in central and northern Italy. We're planning to visit Rome, the Garden of Ninfa, and Boboli Gardens, among many other exciting destinations!

If you've already requested it, you're on the email list and you'll continue to receive trip updates. If you'd like to join the list to stay informed, please email a request at plantpostings[at]gmail[dot]com. Ciao!

32 comments:

  1. You've hit the nail on the head! Everything is coming along at an alarming rate isn't it?
    Your image of Lily of the Valley fills me with fear.....it takes over part of my garden from under the fence I share with a neighbour. I have been pulling shoots for days now! I can't treat with chemicals as it is too near other plants.
    Your shrubs and trees are a good bit ahead of mine - a delight too see!

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    1. Yes! I found myself behind the camera and tied to the computer way too much. So, I'm taking my first major break from blogging since PlantPostings started in October 2010. Lily of the Valley can be invasive. I have it (mostly) confined to a garden plot bordered by a stone wall and a brick pathway. I can't believe how many plants are blooming and leafing out right now!

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  2. How lovely! Same here ... I can't keep up!

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    1. Thanks, Joey! Do you remember things happening this fast before? Last year, it was more of a staggered spring--stretching from March through May. And the year before that, I think things happened more slowly, too. Crazy!

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  3. oh, maybe that's too fast!?! I like a slow enjoyable unfurling!
    But at this moment I'll take whatever as long as it's done snowing! Enjoy your time away. Sounds like you'll have tons of photos when you get back.

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    1. Yes, too fast. The Trilliums, Hellebores, Tulips, Redbuds, Maples, Forsythias, Magnolias, and Crabapples are all blooming at the same time. What am I forgetting? I might have a few photos, but I'm seriously missing a lot, too!

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  4. I can't keep up either...I haven't seen the lilies of the valley but I will have to go check again....still looking forward to the trip...not sure if I was on your email list but if not add me to it Beth.

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    1. Yes, you are on the email list, Donna. Planning to send out preliminary plans shortly! Enjoy the rush of beauty around us!

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  5. Beautiful images, Beth! I'm glad that spring has finally arrived for you. I agree it's hard to keep up with these days, and time is much better spent enjoying these fleeting moments of beauty than sitting at a computer typing (I'm heading outdoors myself as soon as I finish my first cup of coffee).

    This reminds me of a conversation with my mother: I hadn't talked to her all week and called her Sunday afternoon to chat. I told her if she was out this way to stop by and see all my tulips and the crabapples in bloom. Of course, they were at their peak 5 days ago; by the time she gets here, they'll probably be just a memory.

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    1. Thank you, Rose. I'm so distracted from completing my paying work! Argh. It's just so amazing outside right now! The Crabapples (along with everything else) are now blooming here. About the only plants/trees/shrubs that aren't blooming are the very early bulb plants. And they just recently faded!

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  6. I know, I know! Every day is different, and whenever I take a photo, I realize there are even more blooms the next day! It's fabulous! Have a wonderful break. I think it's fabulous that you want to just relax, sit and enjoy your garden for a while (in between garden chores, of course). We don't seem to do that as much as we should.

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    1. Thanks, Holley. I'll be stopping by your blog and as many others as I can fit in! I just wanted to take a break from posting to enjoy the beautiful spring. Oh, and of course I have soooo much planting, cleaning, and tidying to do in the garden. But that is also tremendously enjoyable! I don't think I'll be sitting much. ;-)

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  7. It does feel like we can't keep up. And now we are in the middle of a unusual heat wave...the air is hot! and the ground is cool.

    The poor plants don't know what to do.

    We are frantically gardening, and there is still so much to do.

    Jen

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    1. I hear that we're supposed to have a heat wave here in the Midwest next week. This week is absolutely perfect! I wish I could bottle these days!

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  8. Exactly! I have had the same thought. I even thought, what's the point of asking Judy to take pictures, by tomorrow everything will be completely different! I suppose that the blog does not have to be completely in real time, but still ...

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    1. I'm glad others feel the same way! It's my first longer than one week break from blogging since I started in October 2010. It just seemed like the right time. I need to get all the veggies and flowers planted, and clean up the garden, and plant some new shrubs ...

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  9. Boy can I identify with your post. My garden is changing so fast it's incredible. It must be the late start of spring and all the rain we've gotten. However, with each change, it's getting better and better!

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    1. I think you're right about the late start--everything has to catch up! And yes, it sure is a beautiful spring!

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  10. As for right now, I'm planning on going!! I'm so excited! If spring had sounds effects, I think it would be fireworks. :o)Everything is exploding with growth. Great pix!

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    1. I'm so glad to hear that, Tammy! I really want to meet you, and it would be so fun to tour gardens together! Fireworks and incredible bird songs. The winged friends are very happy, too. Thanks!

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  11. You're so right about how quickly things move in spring. Can't wait to read about your trip to Italy! It's my most favorite place I've ever visited.

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    1. This spring is especially that way because everything was so delayed. All the flowering plants are blooming at once. Let me know if you'd like to be on the email notification list!

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  12. Here I have a similar flush of bloom, but I have been watering or plants would still be in limbo. We have been so dry that nothing was moving until I got the sprinklers out. Spring this year was really an odd bird. This weekend we will be back to near freezing temps. I like your images, very beautiful.

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    1. Thanks, Donna! We've hit a little cold spell, too, with frost warnings for the next few nights. Then 80s for highs again next week. Poor confused plants. I hope you get some rain soon--we've certainly had plenty this spring!

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  13. ah I know the feeling .. I feel I am so behind on all my posts and the colors in the trees and plants around have already changed!
    looking forward ot your posts from Italy! how exciting to do a garden trip!

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    1. I'm feeling a little withdrawal not posting for a while. But it was so beautiful around here this week, with everything blooming at the same time. I felt like I was chained to my camera and not really taking it in. I'll be back on Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up. Let me know if you'd like to be on the email notification list for the Italy trip. It's going to be incredible!

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  14. Lovely photos Beth, I am glad to hear your garden is playing catch-up. Here in London we are back to cold, rainy and very windy weather so things have slowed down again, I don’t really have the same problem as you. I am eagerly awaiting lots of things to come into bloom, hoping they will open up by Tuesday so I can photograph them for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day! I was hoping for at least ONE rose, not too much to ask for in the middle of May? Not sure I will have that either. Enjoy your time in the garden, that’s where we are supposed to be, being in front of the computer should really be just for spare time, if we have any :-)

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    1. Thanks, Helene. The garden has caught up, but I'm still way behind. That's funny that you mention Roses in May--ours usually don't make an appearance until June, so that seems "normal" to me. I have way too many blooms to share on GBBD, so I'll have to pick and choose and pare it down a bit. Nice problem to have, except I'm a bit overwhelmed. ;-)

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  15. Oh, how I wish I could go on that garden tour. You mentioned some of my dream gardens! I look forward to your posts about the tour. Meanwhile, it is so exciting to see the garden changing with the advancing season. My own garden is past spring and is headed into early summer. I am not looking forward to our sweltering hot summer and will be remembering the sweet joys of spring.

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    1. Oh, that would be fun to have you along, Deb. It's still more than a year away. ;-) We're still in the full beauty of spring even though some blooms are fading. Others are taking their place in the spotlight. I'm actually looking forward to the warmer weather. It was such a long winter!

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  16. hi beth, the tour sounds wonderful. I've never gone on a garden tour, and it would be extra amazing to go and meet you and Donna and other cyberfriends. It's a dream, but dreams can come true, can't they? Have a good break. I manage my time now by posting less often and less regularly. It seem it's a challenge everyone faces to fit everything in.

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    1. Yes, dreams can come true! I hope you'll be able to join us. Regarding the time away: I had a lot of projects going on for work and some family events. And then so much gardening and chores to catch up on. Since I'd posted at least once a week for 2 1/2 years, I just needed to take a little pause. I really missed it though!

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