Outside Work

Look what other tree is in bloom!  

The Chinaberry tree which is what we call our Lilac tree 

because that is what it smells like!  

It was a beautiful day outside-no drizzles and lots of sunshine! 

 I painted the poolside tables after wire-brushing them.  

I ran out of white paint so I was stalled 

until I could pick up some more to finish the shelving rack.

That also needs a new piece of wood --

I will be finishing this today.

I also tried my hand at cutting up some pallets for the bird house project plans!  It worked out okay, if a bit messy and noisy!

But I did end up with a pallet's worth of boards

 all ready to be cut to size for a bird house.  

Soon.

 

Not Pussy Willows But...

You can almost see the buds growing on the Fringe Tree!  This was on Sunday this week-just a very few swollen buds on a few branch tips.

On Monday, they were swelling to a very green color.

On Tuesday, there were many little bits of fringe--about 5"-6" in length.  This tree gets their very aromatic blooms that will eventually be 12"-15" long!

Only the very tips of the many branches will make the flowers.  Like dogwoods, they get their flowers before their leaves.

The tree  doesn't look like much now but just wait a few more days!

The tree is a Chionanthus Virginicus Shrub Tree, native to our area and this tree is a male which is showy in flowers but doesn't have the olive type fruit that birds love! 

 I might have to find this guy a mate! 

 

Blooms

Little Guy is sick

-all I've done today is clean from his misses-- piles of laundry and  then snuggles!

Be grateful I am only posting pics of the flowers!

The first bloom is open on the Magnolia tree--the scent is heady!

 on the other side of the tree, in the setting sun the tree's burnished undersides look golden instead of rust colored! 

Breath-taking!

 The humble aloe are all in bloom-

And even the small red hibiscus looks so tropical.

Will is flummoxed that it doesn't smell amazing because 'it is beautiful!'

Are you ready for the last day of the month?!

Top, Cat, View

Sometimes you just need to bury your head in the sand....

(this is Sissy, not Lena)

 And other days, you feel you can run like the wind!

Will got his day on the pier;

 what a difference a few days can make!  

The waves were 2' high and the wind was strong!

 This is what a nor'easter can do to us!

 Here is the full view of the Fringe tree-radiant!! 

And a full view of the new sweater 

just before I left the house wearing it on its maiden appearance.

Speaking of appearances--

this is the same cat that was sleeping in the first photo

except here, she photo bombed me!

And this is what I managed to pull off yesterday while I made use of several small time slots--

the flannel quilt top is pieced, trimmed and will now await its turn on the frame.

Blank

Blank is what you get on your blog when you fall asleep like this without posting first! 

 I pieced a few more rows of the girl's flannel quilt; 

I think I am at the halfway row now.

 I am working across the other front on this cardigan-

soon a sleeve will appear!

 I'm also starting a KAL today with the Knit it Now website;

I have the information I need from this swatch to knit the whole sweater 

and know how much yarn it will require, too.  

Very cool information to mine from a swatch!

 I rarely wear a hole through my sock heels but this pair did on both heels at the same time!

I ripped out above the hole and below it so I have some mini skeins for my sock blanket!

And in the background are some of the postcards I have been coloring--I work a bit everyday.

The Fringe tree is in full bloom-

it smells wonderful and looks so fairy-like, too.

Each bloom is about a 12" high so it is very showy!

Say's Who?

 Well we don't have lilacs here in northern Florida, but the Chinaberry tree is now in bloom

and let me tell you how sweet this large flower is to me!

 Each little floret is like a little orchid bloom but the smell is sweet and almost fruity.

 It is listed as an invasive species mostly because each of these berries left from the Fall,

will drop soon and they have a HIGH propagation rate--a grove can appear if you are not a careful gardener! 

 I love the shape of this tree and the open and airiness of its structure;  

it is not leaving the yard in my lifetime!

 Another tree that Bill has been nurturing is called the Orchid tree! 

 It will grow to 30' even though it is now only 36"!  

Not much in the way of aroma but the large flower sure is beautiful!

And look who visited today just to pick a bouquet of all the purple little blooms

growing wild in the back of the property!

(Ella with a handful of Bay Lobelia)

Quandary--

To me the first day of Spring is the Vernal Equinox, 

March 21.

Imagine my angst when I read that not only is the vernal equinox today, so is Spring!

From the Farmer's Almanac:

Traditionally, we’ve celebrated the first day of spring on March 21, but astronomers and calendar manufacturers alike now say that the spring season starts one day earlier, March 20, in all time zones in North America.

When Is The First Day of Spring in 2019?

In 2019, we greet spring with the Vernal Equinox on Wednesday, March 20th, at 5:58 p.m. Eastern Time.

When is the First Day of Spring in 2020?

Believe it or not, we greet spring in 2020 on Thursday, March 19, 2020! Even earlier!

How could the first day of spring change from year to year?

There are a few reasons why seasonal dates can vary from year to year. The first is that a year is not an even number of days and neither are the seasons.

I am sticking to traditions and not going to be affected by any facts.

So there.

Happy last day of Winter.