Mom's Spring Flowers

As promised, here is the first of two photo-driven posts

showing you the lovely views in and around my mom's yard.

This mound is the storm cellar.

The storm cellar is cleverly disguised with iris,....

...peonies, and ground cover.

Here's the broad view of the backyard.

Getting closer to the tree you find an old wash tub brimming with green stuff.

(Guess I should have asked it's name. Some kind of succulent, I think.)

The iron kitty watches over the bluebird house.

One of my favorite spots....

...the swing.

The garden arch supports some pretty clematis.

Oh, look. We have visitors from the neighboring farm.

Hello there, ladies.

A scrap piece of picket fence makes the perfect backdrop for peonies.

This lovely peach iris thrives out back, too.

Mom uses this old treadle sewing machine base as a potting table. 

She simply rested the grate on top.

On passed the swing and into the side yard brings us to another flower bed.

Not much was blooming here yet, except these roses.

Another rusty garden surprise rests here.

In front of the house is this long bed with more iris and peony.

One of my favorites!

This entire slope was lifeless until Mom dug out and terraced the space, 

moving rocks, and installing boards for a gentle staircase.

Here's the slope from the other side, looking toward the house.

Do you see another rusty treasure? My son, Silas, and his friend, Cameron,

dragged the milk can from the creek near our old house and gave it to her.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace 

because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope 

through the power of the Holy Spirit. --Romans 15:13 NLT

Kitty and I will see you again real soon.

Time to Work in the Yard

A recent torrential downpour, although welcome, identified a problem to be solved in the yard.

The rain runs down the roof, through the downspout, and onto the roof over the back porch....

....making a small pond right here...,

...then flowing along the side of the sunroom creating a small gully and exposing tree roots.

Time to put these bad boys to work!

 Our neighbor purchased pallet loads of bricks and pavers at an auction for a buck a pallet.

He very generously offered them to us if Brian would load and take them away himself!

He didn't need to offer twice.

We also have a couple pieces of flagstone. This one has been standing at the front corner of the house since before we moved.

The other one is already part of the walk, under these bags of mulch.

The project list includes replacing the gully with bricks, pavers, and ground cover. 

Brian will reroute the downspout in the back and build an extension to the back deck that will have gravel underneath to more effectively soak up the water and cover the muddy spot.

We will also use the bricks to make a new sidewalk to and from the front parking area...,

...as well as borders for flower beds by the porch.

I can not even begin to tell you how delighted I was to find bare dirt, good soil under the leaves I raked away a couple weeks ago. Last fall it was grass covered and I was dreading digging it out.

The current sidewalk is a bit wonky, so we'll be straightening that out.

 The porch is going to get a facelift, too. Well, not a full-blown facelift, let's call it a touch up.

More on that later.

Sorry for the drab pictures.

For one thing, the sun hasn't shone in my neck of the woods for weeks (it feels like, anyway)

and the uglier the before shots, the better the after shots, right?

Thanks for dropping in!

What's Growing in the Yard?

Spring has sprung in the yard!

I have been anticipating new growth this first Spring season in our yard. Besides Grandma's peonies, which are coming up beautifully I might add, there are things popping up all over the place. I know the names of some of the blooms, but will have to wait until the others decide to show their pretty faces before I can name them.

The peonies by the front step are the tallest so far.
However, every one on the divided plants is growing like crazy!
I'm so excited to show you more when they finally bloom.

Can anyone out there give me a good reason to keep this yucky yucca that's growing at the front fence?

We discovered this moth just emerged from it's cocoon.

It was about four inches from antenna to wingtip.
I waited and waited for it to open it's wings,
but it was being private.

Having always admired redbud trees in other people's yards,
I was thrilled to find out this beauty was in my own backyard.

I woke up one morning to find the bunch of sticks beside the
porch had burst into yellow blooms!

Nothing says "Hello Springtime" like forsythia.

Plants aren't the only things growing at A House and Yard.
Bonnie and Clyde are getting bigger every day.

Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. 

They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon 

in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today 

and thrown into the fire tomorrow, 

he will certainly care for you. 

Matthew 6:28-30 NLT

I hope this Spring finds you happy and blessed!