don't look if you have allergies!!

[princess]

This is my view from "my" spot in the gazebo! Spring has sprung!!

Of course, this would be looking up......:D

Tomorrow is our 29th anniversary! :banana:

[Inspector1]

Happy Anniversary Princess & Prince

Enjoy..... Hope you have another 29 more after this one........

I1:wave:

P.S. Great job on Factory Direct Princess !!!! You are such a PEACH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

[princess]

Thank you! We don't have any real big plans this year. We're normally at Disneyland, but have cut back on our trips to save more for the DC & FL trip this Summer. So I won't be at Disneyland until mid May!:bawling:

I tried to have the bullerin #'s years & discription in the titles on the factory direct area. I thought it might make it easier for looking for something specific. There may be some repeats.

That gazebo with the wisteria on it is right outside our bedroom door! The other wisteria is a double bloom one & is also starting to bloom. It's a great sight to wake up to!! I really love spring! Seeing the plants wake up always makes my attitude good. Now it just needs to get warm enough to swim.....

[BenjiBoy650]

Ahhh flowers. That's so nice!

My backyard
http://www.reaction-image.net/albums/album38/IMG_5290_001.jpg

UC Davis 03-12-03
http://www.reaction-image.net/albums/album38/120_2028_img1.jpg
http://www.reaction-image.net/albums/album38/120_2029_img1.jpg

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I can't believe you updated Factory Direct the day before your anniversary...lol good job :)

[princess]

Pretty!

Our plum tree is al finished blooming & now the cherry trees are going strong. Even the orange tree is starting up. I love Spring!

[princess]

the double wisteria I see from my bedroom door.

[princess]

one of the cherry trees

[princess]

the plum tree last week

[princess]

the onry fish in the pond that likes to play possum! He's nearly 5 inches long now. He was born in the pond & is wild!

[princess]

It's cooler this week, but the lilacs bloomed anyway! As sweet as roses smell my favorite scent of any flower has to be lilac! I've been babying this bush for 12 years! It needs more sunshine than it gets where it's planted. Last year it only gave me one little bunch. This year it's happier! I've planted another in the sunshine in the backyard, but it's still tiny. It should give me blooms in a couple of years.

Have any of you seen any all black shiny bumble bees? They seem to really like the wisteria. They also hung out at the honeysuckle when I had one. They're over an inch long & chubby. They only look "furry" on their legs, the rest looks almost like plastic.

[feferic]

Oh, Cali is so nice! I was just there last week and couldn't believe it! Everything was so green and in bloom.

In Nebraska, everything (for the most part) is still brown and dead. Although I have noticed that I have some flowers coming up.... hopefully they will bloom soon (as long as we don't get another frost).

[princess]

You already came out here?? We missed it! Did the drive go well? Did you handle all the smoke breaks? Was Santa Rosa nice? Since we had about 2 weeks in the 80's you should have hit some nice weather while here!

We're supposed to get a little rain late this week, but probably not enough to knock the buds off.

There's good & bad everywhere. Some people do complain about no REAL seasons here. Winter is foggy, cold & sometimes frosty. Spring is warm & windy. Summer is hot & windy. Fall is windy. Unless you're close to the bay, then it's foggy or sunny, but nearly always in the 60's.:D

[BenjiBoy650]

Microclimates rule! Over here, foggy and cold in the winter. Then more of the same in the fall but around mid-late October we get a thaw we call "Indian Summer" :) Then in winter rain and some sun. Then in spring it's pretty nice.

[Wardsweb]

Sure is beautiful, but it's making my eyes itch. :D

[princess]

That's why I just HAD to give a warning!
;)

How are you doing? Still feeling overwhelmed?

[feferic]

Santa Rosa was beautiful. Last time I was in the area i was 12 years old (1987). We went to SFO one day, which was great fun! The drive out wasn't bad -- but we did stop a lot... Won in NV -- so the whole trip only cost me about $400! talk about a bargin!

I wish I would have had more time, but we were pretty much booked from time we arrived to the time we left. I did find out that my counsin lives down the road from the Krobel estate outside of Santa Rosa.

The weather was nice. Sometimes, I don't pack well. For this trip, I was thinking 'hum, its cold in Nebraska, so it must be cold there too'... was I wrong. Never fear, a short trip to the Gap and I was ready for the 80-degree temp (much better than the 40s it was here).

I'd like to come back again, maybe then, we can have a meeting of driveaccord.net. :)

[princess]

I'm so glad our weather cooperated for you! If you hit it just right, Spring is a great time to be here. Of course, it can be unpredictable then too. We normally have 3 day cycles. You were here during a record breaking mini heatwave! Only record breaking by a degree or 2, but it was sure talked about a lot! There's been several years that we've been water skiing before Easter, so it does get warm sometimes. On Easter it usually threatens to rain. That puts a damper on all the egg hunts!!

:)

[princess]

My baby Jacaranda tree has it's very first blooms!! My neighbors got to see a "happy dance" yesterday when I discovered it!!:banana:

This tree was brought up from Anaheim in Feb. He rode all the way up in the Accord. The pot was at my feet on the passenger side & the top was curled in the trunk. I've wanted one for years & they wouldn't order one for me at our local nurseries.

Those of you living in the south probably think this is not big deal. I think they are SOOOOO pretty! I was told they wouldn't like it this far north, but I've seen others in town. I had a "blue robe" Robinia where this is planted, but because I followed the instructions by leaving the fiber stuff around the roots they never went DOWN. It blew over last Winter. It was supposed to have light purple blooms & was pink. This one will be bigger & it's definately got the light purple blooms!! It smells so nice!

It IS still a baby though. It's only about 10' tall so far.

I feel so lucky! My black iris bloomed for me as a birthday present & now my jacaranda has bloomed for Mother's Day!! Oh yeah, my wisteria bloomed for my anniversary! :D See, my prince isn't the only one spoiling me!

[according2me]

About the only thing that hasn't bloomed in our gardens is the wisteria. Does anyone know how many years this plant needs to be in place before blooms appear. This is it's 3rd year.

Also, it's in a shady location on a trellis, does it need full sun???

[princess]

They do prefer sunshine. Some types of Wisteria can take 7 years to bloom. My double one bloomed in 4, my regular one in it's second season. The double one gets mostly morning & early afternoon sun, the other one gets late afternoon sun. Both are growing over the gazebo.

The first one didn't bloom until I planted the second one. This year the regular one got pods. I think they "mated"! I didn't know that would happen!!:eek:

There's also 2 kinds of main plants, one winds clockwise & the other counter clockwise. I don't remember which is which though.... as far as the slow bloomers.

Timelife used to have an online plant encyclopedia that was helpful for me. I'm not sure if it's still around now.:confused:

[Inspector1]

My Azaleas and Rhododendron are starting to Bloom now......
The Purple Azaleas in 1st pic bloomed 2 weeks ago and the red blooms on Mothers Day... We planted over 100 annuals this past weekend...

I1:)

[Inspector1]

#2

[Inspector1]

#3

[princess]

Beautiful! I can't get azalelas to grow for me. I tried a few times, even adjusted the PH where they were planted. One was trying a little, then we went skiing without Malo, our big mutt. He pulled it up to punish us! He loved to go boating. I haven't tried again since!:)

[according2me]

I1...Nice pictures. Our azaleas finished down here about 3 weeks ago. I have one that is over 30 years old. It was a house warming gift from a friend's mother's yard when we moved in 27 years ago. It's 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide and really puts on a show every Spring.

Princess... your problems growing azaleas must be a regional thing. Down here, they're hard to kill. I have dug up and relocated many. In fact, I just moved one two weeks ago and it's doing fine.

I was up in the Red Maple tree this morning. I cut a 30 foot branch in preparation for Hurricane season. Thank goodness it fell right were I planned. Yeah, I still like to climb in the trees:)

[princess]

Nah, it's just me or my yard.... there's others around. I think I have too much shade for one thing. Our soil is clay for the most part. Normally people can grow pretty much anything here, but for some reason I can't grow azaleas!

I do have some really nice gardenias!!:D

[Inspector1]

Thanks According2me!
I think I'll have to keep mine pruned back at about 4 ft, They are beautiful until it storms on them... Those are about 5 years old so I think I've got some time.. ha..

Good idea trimming before it went were you didn't want it.....

I paid 600 bucks last year to have a limb removed.... 30ft limb 40ft up... and that is the 1st fork in trunk about 18in dia.
It was hanging in trees over neighbors yard so it had to be removed..
It took 5 guys 2 hrs 1 cutting 2 in other trees roping off to pull back over my yard before dropping....

Princess,
My yard is mostly clay..
I added sand to the Azalea bed and fertilize w/Muracid......

I1:)

[according2me]

Now that the pansies and petunias are winding down, the current attraction is our hibiscus, begonias, caladiums and gladiolas. The wife planted over 50 bulbs this year and the gladiolas spikes are already 5 feet tall and bursting into color.

On the food plant side, the green bean, tomato and bell pepper plants are in fruit. I should be able to start harvesting in the next 2 weeks.

[Inspector1]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh Fresh veggies.....Before Memorial Day!!!!!!!

I envy you A2me.........

I1 :)

[according2me]

But by June, this place is very hot and humid, you almost need gills to breath.:) I would think Ohio would still be pleasant then.

If people want to visit this part of the country, I'd say don't come after May or before November. It gets seriously uncomfortable and you almost need scuba tanks to breath in enough oxygen to survive.

Temperature and humidity in the 90's, with little breeze for comfort, is more the norm than the exception. You look forward to the next thunderstorm, of which there are many.

:bawling: That's sweat, not tears!!!!!!!!

[princess]

On the food side: I just picked a whole bunch of cherries! One tree went wild & produced a lot!! I always grow tomatoes. They are starting to blossom. For a few years I had all kinds of peppers. The plums are about half size & will be ripe in mid June.

My glads are pretty busy, but not bloomed yet. The hydrangas are happy! The roses go nearly all year here. The rest for Dec. & Jan. then start budding again.

Well, speaking of yards.....it's time for me to go mow!:D

[princess]

The Wisteria this year..... this is the side with the "double" blooms.....

[princess]

The gazebo..... notice the chewed corner...BAD DOGS!!!!

[Inspector1]

Here's a wonderful example of a weeping crab I pass everyday taking the kids to school.
I1 :)

[Sprocket]

I wish I could see all the pretty pictures, but my eyes are too swollen and watery....

Stupid pollen.

[princess]

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: grab the benadryl

and I1, I've never seen a crab cry! :nuts: :nuts:

[Inspector1]

My crab should bloom in the next few days and I'll post a pic...

I1 :)

[SSMV6]

I really envy you guy (and girls) who live further south than I do.. I'm in Boston and it's still under 50 degrees this time of year! Spring doesn't really happen until the end of May!

[princess]

By then we should be dried up here.... the fields turn golden.... & so do we!

[SSMV6]

I'd move, but I'd rather be in the cold than in the heat. If it's cold, at least I can put on an extra jacket. BTW, since my last post,it started snowing outside! :dunno:

[princess]

snow??? it's the middle of April! Even the cherry trees are supposed to be in bloom in DC!!

[anysia]

we're out of the main snow threat in pittsburgh at this point... but thats not saying there sin't a chance of a spring snow storm!!! i bet stiller could fill us in on those details! :lmao: there was a may in the 90's i think when we got pounded with snow (or was it late april????)

anyway, things are blooming around here now. people started cutting their grass over the past couple of weeks too! everything is turning green. the tree outside of my patio has it's buds on it and so do the bushes outside of my bedroom window.

i love when things first start to bloom!!! :D actually i love the changing seasons, so this time of year is one of the really good ones! ;)

[stiller fan]

it was may.... i remember it was only about 5-7 years ago.....

i remember it was the monday after orthodox easter on 2001.....MID-MAY!!!! and yes, it was snowing!!!! :D :biggrin:

[SSMV6]

Princess, sorry to hijack your thread... The good news about Boston is, the buds will bloom through anything but 10 below 0, so the plants are beginning to bud here... At least in my house, it's like a garden year round. since my dad keeps his plants inside during the winter to keep them from freezing. :)

[princess]

It's not a "hijack" still the posey subject!!

Here, my roses take a couple of months off in Dec. & Jan. The rest is pretty normal seasonal stuff. If you have things planted so they get sun, when it's out, in the Winter & sheltered from the wind....you can get roses to bloom year round. Unfortunately I can't plant that way. My sunniest spot is where the pool is....

You know, places that get snow is hard for me to picture in bloom! When I see snow here it's in the mountains... so in spring you see dogwood trees flowering & some wild flowers....but mostly it's just pines & redwoods & more pines & redwoods....

The mountain resorts have had late snow before & been open in June...but it's rare. Probably that El Nino thing, or La Nina.... I don't know what they call it when the ocean temps are normal!! :dunno: :D

The news had some really pretty pictures of DC's cherry trees in bloom.... I bet this is a beautiful time of year to be there! In July it was pretty much like here....which made FL look very green!!

[Sprocket]

Here's the current view out the backside (sniff, hack..):

http://img39.echo.cx/img39/351/dogwood3ro.jpg

And a..a....achoo!...closeup:

http://img39.echo.cx/img39/9986/dog25hv.jpg

(wheeze..)

West coasters: this is a dogwood.

[princess]

It comes in white & pink here!

There's pretty flowering Dogwood at Yosemite.....it's really pretty there in May when so much stuff is in bloom!

I'm soooooo thankful to not have allergies!!! :yes:

I really like those pictures! :thmsup:

[Sprocket]

It comes in white & pink here!

There's pretty flowering Dogwood at Yosemite.....it's really pretty there in May when so much stuff is in bloom!...

Whoops, i don't remember seeing it in SoCal when I lived there, but I guess it exists in the north parts.

We have a pink one in the front, too....


It's the official state flower here. Dogwood festivals, etc....

And I didn't really have any allergy problems UNTIL I moved to Southern Cali (moved back to NC several years ago). Since then, it's been a lot of fun in the spring..not.

[princess]

I think they're mostly just in the mountains. I hadn't really noticed them until we ventured to Yosemite for mother's day years ago.... probably because our trips to lakes have been Summer things. Up here, I've seen some planted ones.

My brother, who was born & raised here moved to AZ after the Air Force & now is confronted with allergies when he visits. It's pretty common. We lived in TX in the Fall, & AZ all year, but I'm not bothered. Of course, when I mow in the dry windy Summer I sneeze....but it's more of a foreign object thing. I've been tested & no allergies. I have many friends & family that hate that! :D My prince has always claimed he's allergic to work in the Spring. It's probably the trees over there that have tons of tiny yellow flowers... Acacia maybe? Cars turn yellow from whatever they are's pollen!

[Sprocket]

And to give equal time, here's the pink one in front:

http://img7.echo.cx/img7/7233/pink13nq.jpg

[Inspector1]

My weeping crab finally blooming :banana: :banana:

I1 :)

[Inspector1]

At night with the lights ......................I like it better at night :thmsup:

[Inspector1]

Up close....

[princess]

You lighting really does have a great look there!! :thmsup: I only have a bout half of my lights in the back left.....bad dogs! Jacob can't wait to get his hands on my yard after they move...he seems to think it NEEDS more accents. We'll see.