We worked in the yard over the weekend, everywhere there are leaves to rake and mulch and sticks to pick up. The perks of living in the woods are balanced with the work required to claim what we call our "yard" each year. In reality it's just a mowed version of the woods that surrounds us. When we built here 7 years ago we vowed to keep it as natural as possible. I waiver each year when I see manicured lawns in town with their picture perfect borders and Kelly green lawns. It's possible even here on our mountain top to achieve those results but it doesn't "fit." We are country, we are woods, we are natural and that's not a bad thing. It is what it is!
You can't really improve on Mother Nature, she does a bang up job of decorating. Friday's drive home provided a perfect chance to get some great pictures along the lake. As beautiful as these Crabapple trees are, you'd never take a second glance any other time of the year. Springtime's show is their one shining moment.
Redbuds too, this is an old one that is mis-shapen from years of ice storm damage and loss of limbs. In the winter months it's outline is scrubby and worn, no redeeming qualities. But come Spring, she transforms into an American Beauty in shades of purple to pink!
Everywhere I looked there were Redbuds dotting the countryside. I love the limey green against the purples, you almost need sunglasses the colors are so bright! This week's thunderstorms will bring us more spring color, next comes the Dogwoods and then tulips will be popping up. March is full of lots of surprises, something to look forward to with each day!
Take a minute and click on this great video, I hope it entices you to come to Arkansas for a visit this year!
we keep a great deal of our place 'natural' too. i try to clear some of the downed limbs, and do mow the back pasture to keep the weeds at bay, spray mesquites, but otherwise... :)
ReplyDeleteI love having the "excuse" of natural... takes all the pressure off!
DeleteI just LOVE redbuds! Our dogwoods have just started opening, hopefully the storms won't be too bad & knock all the buds off! Not going to complain about the rain though as that means I won't have to water the fruit trees or the newly planted blueberry and grapes!
ReplyDeleteWe are under tornado watch tonight, that's one of the things about springtime that I'm not crazy about...
DeleteI love the redbuds here in KY! Yours is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWe have a Texas Redbud (that what the tag said on it when we bought it several years ago to plant) and it's a deep, dark purple... almost like a berry color. Different from the ones we see so often here in the woods. I wish we had planted fruit trees when we moved in- that's on my to-do list this spring!
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