A Beautiful Day in the Garden

Saturday was cool but sunny and after a day or two of foggy cloudy days it was very welcome.  Flocks of robins were everywhere and it was too glorious to  stay inside. So, I grabbed my camera and started taking an inventory of my garden. My first reflection was: in the winter when the garden is sleeping I like the pop of blue of my cast iron architectural piece.  

 

I had a surprise visitor this week that I was able to capture. I've been putting meal worms out hoping to attract bluebirds. The worms disappear and I haven't seen who is eating them but finally I was rewarded. Actually, there were three bluebirds at the same time on this little feeder but when I got my camera they flew away.

 I have a thing about bluebirds. They are so sweet and pretty but they are really sensitive to movement.

 This sweet little bird didn't mind me at all but I'm not sure what kind of bird it is.

Is it some kind of finch?

The camellia is the the Alabama state flower. This camellia variety is named Professor Sargent.

 About three years ago, a friend gave me a cutting of this plant called Variegated Daphne. It has an intense sweet fragrance and this is the first year it has bloomed. It is a welcome evergreen plant in your garden and smells delightful. It likes a shaded location and will grow to a height of 4 or 5 feet so I will have to move it to avoid crowding.
There is something quite rewarding about rooting a plant from a cutting.

 Snowbells are one of the first spring bulbs to bloom in my garden.

 You can see the slight damage from a hard freeze on the buds on this camellia.

 It was a surprise and welcome sight to see a pot I had abandoned blooming. I used this oxalis in a St. Patricks's Day tablescape last spring.

 And this is a burgundy shamrock with pink blooms. Another pop of color at a welcome time. 

Daffodils are so cheerful and happy. I found two packages of bulbs in my garage refrigerator recently I forgot to plant. My goal this week is to plant them. We'll see what happens since it is rather late to plant them.

Look closely  and you will see caterpillars on this parsley plant taken late summer or fall. I believe they are swallowtail caterpillars. Not once but twice they ate the parsley in this urn down to the nubs and it grew back.

Here on the bottom left is the revived parsley picture taken this weekend after the caterpillars feasted months ago. Don't despair when you see caterpillars on your plants. The plants will grow back and you will be rewarded with butterflies in the summer and fall. See swallowtails here.  

Hen and chicks succulent is a slow grower but does well if it likes it's spot. After the stroll through my garden taking inventory something clicked in my mind. I remembered a picture from an old Southern Lady magazine of roses and succulents for a Valentine arrangement. The wheels started turning and I began cutting camellias and succulents.

Viola! A new vignette to enjoy.  Thanks for joining me as I strolled through my garden on a beautiful day. 

Linking to:

Metamorphosis Monday   Botanic Bleu  Show and Share  The Scoop  Celebrate and Decorate  Inspire Me Tuesday  Wow Us Wednesday  Tablescape Thursday  Share Your Style Party  Thoughts of Home  Foodie Friday  Feathered Nest Friday  Dishing It & Digging It   Calypso in the Country