Love, Joy and Peas: April 2016

Friday, April 29, 2016

Rain Drenched Flowers and a Squirrely Surprise

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" We've had a lot of rain but that's good for the flowers. The bright reddish orange and yellow bicolor dahlia pictured above is a new addition to our garden and I love it.

We planted the hot pink bicolor dahlia outside and I hope it survives the current cold snap.

The window box dianthus is thriving and I thought it looked neat with the raindrops on its petals.

Another new addition to my garden is this white rose-like impatiens. The red in the background is my mini Japanese maple seedling garden. For now, they're sharing the window box. I'm hoping enough survive to make some bonsais for inside and grow a few in pots for outside. The one I started in 2012 made it through a few winters but is no longer with us so this time I wanted extra plants, just in case.

On a rare sunny day this squirrel kept running in front of our hellebore and azalea bushes and I finally got a photo. She's a fast one. I think she likes making my cat's head go back and forth (my cat watches from the window).

That's all for this week's mini garden tour. I hope my flower photos make you smile.

Which was your favorite? What is spring like in your area?

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Black squirrel close ups: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/04/black-squirrel-close-up-photos.html
Dahlias and more: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/04/dahlia-hyacinth-tulip-lilac-and.html
Dianthus and more: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/04/first-and-last-azalea-strawberry-pansy.html

Friday, April 22, 2016

First and Last Azalea, Strawberry, Pansy, Dianthus and Tulip Flowers

Happy Earth Day, floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" Our pink azaleas started blooming this week and they brighten up a very shady part of the yard.

This is probably our last Angelique tulip of the year so I might cut it and bring it indoors to savor.

Our window box dianthus survived another winter and put out its first flower this week.

I found this volunteer (spontaneously growing) blue and white pansy in a sunny garden bed.

The yellow and red tulips may be the last of the season but they are gorgeous.

The strawberries that survived the winter started blooming this week too. I received three new ones as a gift with purchase and planted those today as part of my Earth Day observance.

How did you celebrate Earth Day? Thank you for visiting! May God bless you and our planet!

Related posts:
Pansies and tulips: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/05/pansies-primroses-lilacs-and-angelique.html
Angelique tulips: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/04/angelique-tulips-pansies-yellow-and-red.html
Baby finch and tulip: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/04/primrose-blind-baby-finch-angelique.html

Friday, April 15, 2016

Dahlia, Hyacinth, Tulip, Lilac and Virginia Blue Bell Flowers

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" My kind husband bought this amazing bicolor dahlia this week and I love it.

These hyacinths look more blue in person but they are gorgeous either way.

Last week the Angelique tulips were just opening and this week they are at peak beauty.

The lilacs are just starting to bloom and already smell fantastic.

Our one surviving Virginia blue bell plant is blooming. The bleeding hearts are blooming too but I didn't get a decent photo. Maybe next week, God willing.

What are your favorite spring flowers? Do you have any special garden plans this year? I'd love to hear about them if you do!

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Lilacs in full bloom: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/05/lilacs-azaleas-dianthus-and-dahlias-for.html
Best pansies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/05/pansies-primroses-lilacs-and-angelique.html
Amazing dahlia and ranunculus: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/05/dahlias-ranunculus-azaleas-lilacs-and.html

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Black Squirrel Close Up Photos

Happy wild Wednesday! This female black squirrel let me get fairly close to her and didn't run away even when my camera beeped and all the other wild squirrels fled.

It was a real treat to have plenty of time to photograph her.

Wildlife is rarely this cooperative so I'm guessing someone feeds her.

This black squirrel, I'm pretty sure, is different from the one I posted a few weeks ago.

I found her in a different neighborhood and she's certainly more friendly.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Original black squirrel: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/02/black-squirrel-photos-haiku-poem.html
Wild raccoon: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/07/wild-raccoon-in-national-arboretum.html
Cute critters on flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/06/cute-critters-on-flowers.html

Friday, April 8, 2016

Angelique Tulips, Pansies & Yellow and Red Primroses

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" Right now the angelique tulips are the star of the yard.

I think they look even prettier from above.

These pretty yellow pansies survived the winter in a pot. A pansy can be tough.

I love the different shades of yellow in the primrose above.

And this red primrose with yellow accents is lovely too.

What's blooming in your garden or area right now?

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you and yours!

Related posts:
2015 Angelique tulip: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/05/pansies-primroses-lilacs-and-angelique.html
2015 Primroses and baby finch: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/04/primrose-blind-baby-finch-angelique.html
White fringed tulips: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/01/white-tulips-for-floral-friday-in.html

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Adult Bald Eagle Feeds Two Baby Eagles

Happy wild Wednesday! My husband took leave today and we went to see the bald eagle nest at the US National Arboretum. The area closest to the nest is closed to protect the eagles but they have some telescopes set up along the open part of the trail (near the azalea collections).

It was a blessing to see the nest in person but the best photos (first four in this post) were taken via the television in the Arboretum's Visitor Center, which was broadcasting the live eagle cam.

When we first arrived it was just the two eaglets then the adult bald eagle flew in with fresh fish for the babies. It looks like there were still some leftovers in the nest too.

Even if on a television screen (or this blog post), I think these wild birds are amazing.

And just for reference, this was the best photo I got of the nest from the ground. You can make out an adult eagle head towards the upper right but the television/cam photos are much better.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you, America and our bald eagles!

Related posts:
2015 Eagle Nest: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/04/wild-eagles-nest-at-us-national.html
Eagle Festival: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/03/eagle-festival-photos.html
Blackwater Eagles: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/03/blackwater-national-wildlife-refuge.html

Copyright note: I don't know the actual legality of copyrighting photos taken of a television/cam and the main reason I use the copyright is because I don't like seeing my photos used without permission. However, if you want to use them for government, educational or nonprofit purposes, you have my permission (though a link and photo credit would be appreciated). If you want to use them for other reason, please contact me at lovejoypeas@gmail.com first. Thank you.

Friday, April 1, 2016

Our First Cherry Tree - Year Two Blossoms

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" I love cherry blossoms and am blessed and thrilled to have my own cherry tree. This is its second year in our yard and, by God's grace, it is thriving.

The cherry blossom flowers don't last very long but they are an excellent reminder to cherish every moment of our lives.

The first two photos in this post were taken on an overcast day and the second on a bright sunny day. They were also taken from opposite sides of the tree.

This year the tree is finally big enough for an overview shot. I had to crop it a bit to keep my neighbors' privacy but you can get a feel for the size of the tree. It is growing but it has a ways to go to reach full size. I hope it provides our friends, bees and birds many years of delight.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you and keep you this springtime and always!

Related posts:
Cherry tree year one: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/04/our-first-cherry-tree-blossoms.html
DC cherry trees: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/04/cherry-blossoms-washington-dc-monuments.html
Puffy cherry blossoms: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/04/cherry-blossom-pom-pom-flower-photos.html