Dogwoods and Peonies

Now that the cherries and pears are done blooming, it's time for the flowering dogwood trees here in NJ. Dogwoods are my favorite flowering trees and there are some wonderful specimens at Reeves.

The tree peonies are also in bloom at Reeves.

My own peonies won't pop until Memorial Day. Can't wait!

Lilacs at Reeves

We popped into Reeves to check out the Lilacs today. A wonderful scent was in the air and we were the only ones in the park for awhile. I love it there. So peaceful. The dogwoods and tree peonies are in bloom too which I'll share in a separate post.

There's a misty quality to the air at Reeves which gives it a secret garden kind of feel...when you're the only one there it's pretty magical.

I'm trying not to overreact

I mean there are much worse things happening in the world. But honestly, we had something horrid happen today.

So, one of the main reasons I love our little house and our street is that it is tree-lined. Or, I should say, it was tree-lined. These were my beautiful trees that sat right in front of our house.

We came home tonight and they were gone.

The city is doing work on our street and they are taking down a bunch of trees after the October storm of 2011. I get it. That storm was really scary and the amount of trees lost and damage done was immense. But really? Did they have to take our beautiful trees?? They made it through the storm just fine!

David has no problem and is happy that the leaves will no longer litter his lawn, but I'm so sad. This will completely change my front garden. No more shade. I need to rethink what's planted there.

Sigh....R.I.P. pretty trees....

First bloom of the season

Granted, it's a knock-out rose bloom, but still...it counts, right?

Lots of gorgeous buds....won't be long now.

Aphids already here

Pretty pink azaleas still in bloom too.

What's Happening Now

All of this hot weather has brought on an early summer over the last few days. Plants that don't usually wake up for weeks are up and about! Here's what's happening now in my garden....

Beauty of Moscow Lilac has started to bloom.

I own 1 bright pink fuchsia azalea. It was here before we arrived. All the azaleas are blooming around here. Kind of like how we have Forsythia everywhere, we have azaleas everywhere too. 

Sweet white anemones that I saved last year from the dead pile at the local nursery.

Tulips just about bloomed out. Maybe 1 more week?

My Cinco De Mayo's aren't blooming yet but have dreadful yellow leaves. They are in desperate need of some iron. Will need to grab some this weekend....

Some of the iris are thinking about blooming already!

As I was taking these pics tonight I turned around and had a visitor watching patiently. We have a bunny burrow under a big forsythia bush so get ready for lots of baby bunny shots....

Tulip Bed in Bloom

The Tulip Bed has bloomed. It's pretty sparce this year with hardly any reds and the blooms are quite small. Still looks pretty but sad compared to last year. You can see all of the Baby Boomer daffys in the front that don't look they are going to bloom. We'll see. I still have hope. I have some late blooming tulips in the bed as well that we'll see if they come up. I'm planning to refill the bed this fall. I think I may add in some yellows too.

Mad Park Update

I really think Madison Square Park might be my favorite park in NYC, next to Central Park. Especially now. It is so beautiful with everything in bloom. I took a few shots this morning before heading into work. Here's a quick tour as I walked around the park.

As you enter, the square has all of its planters looking lovely with daffys, hyacinth and pink tulips. Of course, beautiful cherry trees are all over the park.



They have been restoring the lawn over the winter and it is looking gorgeous. You can see one of the white pear trees in the back and the Empire State Building hovers in the background.

Bleeding Hearts, my favorite! Of course, had to get a pic of them.

And then begins the tulips...

Imperial Fritillarias

This is the center fountain that they have finally turned on after a very long winter. Full planters sit around the edges.

Baby Boomer daffys and muscari. After seeing these in bloom, I'm worried about my own. They haven't bloomed yet...

Such perfect, beautiful Cherries...