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Sunday, February 22, 2015

Spotted Towhee Welcome to Spring February 22, 2014

Welcome to some spring flowers, very early.   We have had unusually warm weather in January and February, and the plants have calculated their warmth hours and decided it's spring.  Of course they could face some harsh realities, I hope not.



Today I am linking with-

I'd Rather Be Birdin' hosted by Hootin' Anni'

Today's Flowers hosted by Denise

Saturday's Critters hosted by Eileen

I Heart Macro hosted by Laura

Macro Monday 2 hosted by Gemma and Mystical Magical Teacher

The compelling flash of red, the Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculata-
















I thought my new Gold Collection Hellebores had mostly disappeared.  I was mistaken, I didn't look in my back bed where my Helleborus 'Winter Moonbeam' was alive after all, I love the way the flowers age to salmon-







Helleborus Winter Jewels 'Royal Heritage is coming along-


A whole bed of my original happy Hellebores from a friend-

And next entry in my houseplant continuing bloom, an African violet I inherited from my Swedish mother-in-law who lived with us for 8.8 years, and lived to 102.33 years.  I haven't succeeded well with African violets before but put this one by the back sliding door where it thrived-

This week my husband and I celebrate 47 years of marriage, 3 children and 6 grandchildren later.  All the older generations are gone on my side of the family this year, and only 2 aunts are left on my husband's side, so we are nearly the older generation.  This fills me with wonder and joyful expectation about the future, because I know this world is not my home.   Hannah 


                                               or cameras are macro

©Weeding on the Wild Side, all rights reserved.   I'm looking forward to hearing your comments and looking at your blogs as well.
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38 comments:

  1. RomiFebruary 22, 2015 at 10:41 PM

    Thank you for sharing these lovely flowers of spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HannahFebruary 22, 2015 at 11:35 PM

      Thanks, Romi, it's too early but I guess that demonstrates the warming that is going on.

      Delete
  2. facile et beau - GustaFebruary 22, 2015 at 10:42 PM

    beautiful flowers

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    Replies
    1. HannahFebruary 23, 2015 at 12:43 AM

      Thanks, they are wonderful to bloom in the mid-winter, though this year they have company!

      Delete
  3. Gemma WisemanFebruary 22, 2015 at 11:54 PM

    So many beautiful flowers dressed in gorgeous colours.

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    Replies
    1. HannahFebruary 23, 2015 at 4:04 AM

      Thanks, Gemma, I wonder what the summer will be like with such warm temperatures now.

      Delete
  4. eileeninmdFebruary 23, 2015 at 2:40 AM

    Hello Hannah, I love your cute Towhee! Great video. And the Hellebores and African Violet are both beautiful..Lovely photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post.. Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby! Have a happy day and week ahead!

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    1. HannahFebruary 23, 2015 at 4:07 AM

      Thanks, Eileen, I couldn't believe the African violet liked it by the door, I thought they didn't care for much sun. The daffodils this early were quite a surprise too, and some flowering trees are blooming as well.

      Delete
  5. TexWisGirlFebruary 23, 2015 at 6:20 AM

    we have snow this morning in texas, so spring is put on hold (i'm sure the ornamental pear tree which was blooming last week is not happy).

    would love to see a towhee in person some day.

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    Replies
    1. HannahFebruary 23, 2015 at 10:17 AM

      Thanks, Theresa, Texas has so many lovely birds I would like to see again- Cardinals, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, etc. We could always get snow for another 2 months too...

      Delete
  6. Linda KayFebruary 23, 2015 at 6:52 AM

    47 years? That is awesome. Loved the flowers in your post!

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    1. HannahFebruary 23, 2015 at 10:30 AM

      Thanks Linda, it seems incredible. Time really flies.

      Delete
  7. UnknownFebruary 23, 2015 at 8:08 AM

    I love all your spring flowers. My mom has a lot of African violets. I haven't had one in years. I'm usually very successful in killing them. Congrats on 47 years of marriage. That's just awesome.

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    Replies
    1. HannahFebruary 23, 2015 at 10:36 AM

      Thanks, Gunilla, I've always killed them before. It's great to succeed. It's great having a sweet husband who has an even temperament and doesn't fly off the handle and stress me out like some people I've known.

      Delete
  8. Dorothy BordersFebruary 23, 2015 at 9:36 AM

    Wonderful photography as usual. I especially enjoyed the towhee. Happy anniversary to you and your husband.

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    1. HannahFebruary 23, 2015 at 10:48 AM

      Thanks, Dorothy, instead of eating at a fancy restaurant, we go swimming and sit in the hot tub there.;-) Warm and bubbly.

      Delete
  9. HannahFebruary 23, 2015 at 10:10 AM

    Thanks, Nicola, I hope winter is treating you well.

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  10. A Colorful WorldFebruary 23, 2015 at 10:33 AM

    Beautiful crocus and hellebores! Loved the towhee also!

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    1. HannahFebruary 23, 2015 at 10:53 AM

      Thanks, Marie, I will enjoy them in case they get snow dumped on them.

      Delete
  11. maryaustriaFebruary 23, 2015 at 3:15 PM

    Such beautiful flowers! Seems like spring is on the way!

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    Replies
    1. HannahFebruary 23, 2015 at 4:41 PM

      Thanks, Mary, it's pretty but scary..... But it is fulfilling my dreams of spring, early!

      Delete
  12. Gail DixonFebruary 23, 2015 at 6:26 PM

    The blooms are quite lovely and a refreshing sight!

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    1. HannahFebruary 24, 2015 at 5:26 AM

      Thanks, Gail, I've never seen such an early spring here. It's very uplifting, and I'm starting to get some work done with garden clean-up and preparation.

      Delete
  13. Phil SladeFebruary 24, 2015 at 12:53 AM

    Its getting that time of year over here too. A few fine days just a bit early often catches out the flowers, the bees and the birds and then they have to slam the brakes on.

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    Replies
    1. HannahFebruary 24, 2015 at 5:28 AM

      Thanks, Phil, I haven't seen bees yet but some loud bug buzzed by the other day. And robins are here already, very early.

      Delete
  14. Sharon WagnerFebruary 24, 2015 at 7:14 AM

    Wow! Spring has arrived on your blog.

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    1. HannahFebruary 24, 2015 at 2:11 PM

      Thanks, Sharon, it seems I have some personal proof of global warming.

      Delete
  15. Anni February 25, 2015 at 1:50 AM

    Beautiful flowers and lovely garden!! Here, where I'm living, it's cold, wet and dreary so this is a special treat with all the lovely colors.
    And, the Towheee is one bird I'd LOVE to find and photograph!!

    Thanks for sharing this link at I'd Rather B Birdin' this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HannahFebruary 25, 2015 at 12:34 PM

      Thanks, Anni, the west coast with the maritime climate gets a break from the cold unless Canada leaves the door open, but we also get the currents from Japan with the radiation. Ouch.

      Delete
  16. MollyFebruary 25, 2015 at 10:07 AM

    Hurrah for spring.... I am so happy to see things starting to come to life

    mollyxxx

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  17. HannahFebruary 25, 2015 at 12:32 PM

    Thanks, Molly, on the sunny days with no cloud cover it can drop below freezing, so I hope the early flowers can take it. I've been able to start putting the chicken wire on my front bed to keep the rabbits out this summer.

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  18. Corner Gardener SueFebruary 25, 2015 at 7:31 PM

    Happy Anniversary, Hannah! My mom is 82, and planning to go from Lincoln, NE to somewhere in Oklahoma with my dad's brother and his wife next month to go to his uncle's 95th birthday party. (My dad passed away this summer. My brother was saying that this uncle liked Mom better than Dad, anyway. I am trying to remember if I've been around him. I do remember a couple of his uncles who farmed in Iowa, who we used to go visit. I remember singing to their cows. Anyway, you mentioning old people made me think of that.

    I am always tickled when I see people in other places have hellebores in bloom, because I know our turn is coming. Yours sure are beauties! I love the foliage on the Gold collection.

    Thanks for the comment on my post.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Corner Gardener SueFebruary 25, 2015 at 7:40 PM

    I forgot to mention that the phlox seeds could still sprout this year. I know some wildflower seeds don't always germinate the first year, but don't remember which. I've also noticed the size of the clumps of phlox varies from year to year.

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    1. HannahFebruary 26, 2015 at 1:53 AM

      Thanks, Sue, I could give them another try. I did grow a lot of the annual phlox, but they didn't reseed, which is rather important to me in an annual to reduce my work load.

      Delete
  20. LauraFebruary 26, 2015 at 10:27 AM

    What an abundance of beauty!!! Thanks for sharing the love up-close with I Heart Macro:-)

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    1. HannahFebruary 26, 2015 at 1:34 PM

      Thanks, Laura, and I hope your long, long winter will be over soon. Thanks for hosting.

      Delete
  21. Bob BushellFebruary 26, 2015 at 2:29 PM

    So beautiful, the flowers and the Towhee, wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  22. rainfield61February 27, 2015 at 5:51 PM

    In flowers we see love.

    ReplyDelete

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