Spring's Early Vist

Spring visited early this year!  My azaleas began blooming the end of January, and now they have come and gone.  In their place, is the lovely wisteria "tree" my husband planted and trained several years ago. 

Its lovely purple, grape-like blossoms fill the air with its special sweet fragrance.

 

Can't you just smell it?

It sits nestled in the shadow of the bare pecan trees in the front yard.

Hope as I may that Spring truly is here to stay, those pecan trees tell me a different story.  Its a well-known southern fact that spring may come to visit, but never stays until the tiny, tender green leaves burst forth on the bare branches of the old pecan trees.  

I check them almost daily, waiting to see the smallest hint of green. 

The buds are swollen, but patience must prevail; they come when they are ready.  Not a minute sooner.

Weather in Florida

You never know what the weather will bring here in "sunny" Florida.
After a pretty cold winter last year, we have really had a nice, mild winter this year.  The tulip trees have all bloomed out nicely, and my azalea bushes are about half-way covered with beautiful pink, red, and white flowers.  I noticed the other day that even the bridal bush is showing some white blossoms.  

But, alas, last night we had a hard freeze.  This morning I had to break the ice in the chickens' water dish.  My beautiful azaleas are a bit droopy.  But that's the story of weather here in Florida.  There's an old saying going around that if you don't like the weather here, just wait around a few minutes and it will change.  Tonight we're supposed to have another hard freeze, 23 degrees.  Tomorrow night, a mere 58 degrees.  Go figure! 

Florida Apples

Starting to harvest the apple crop.  I picked up these few from the ground.  The apples aren't very big (I think they're cute as a button), but they sure taste good!  They are a little tart with just enough sweetness to balance out the flavor.  

My gathering apron:

 

 

 Seems odd that one would be harvesting apples in the dead of winter!  I'm counting my blessings and thanking the Lord for this special treat! 

January Gardening

Is this January?  

Wal-Mart has flip-flops and sunscreen on sale already!

My husband plowed the garden to get ready for the potatoes.

I have apples on my apple tree!

Seems like January always sets my heart and mind on spring planting and warmer weather.  This year I had a little help when my husband picked our last ripe tomato just before the freeze last week.

This is an heirloom called, "Brandywine."

This Granny Smith apple tree bloomed around September, not last spring when it was supposed to.  I call these apples gifts from God since this tree is supposed to be bare this time of year!

With stores stocking spring clothing, seed catalogs arriving in the mail, and apples on my apple tree, I'm starting to get the gardening itch.  It's so nice snuggling up with a steaming hot cup of coffee, in a warm house on a January morning with temperatures outside dipping down to the mid 60's (hey, it's Florida here), dreaming of things to come:

like my spring flower garden...beautiful yellow squash blossom,

...melons on the vine...

 ...more bounty from the garden...

Headin' to the field on the 'Ol Gray Mare.

 Summer garden in full swing...

Sweet corn and snake beans...

Peaches from the orchard...

And of course, puttin' it all up.

Red Geranium from my husband's mother.  

 Another flower from my mother-in-law, this sweet-scented Phlox is one of my favorites.

Remembering all the bounty of the coming spring helps warm us up a bit on those cold January days!  Thank the Lord for all He gives us, including the time spent indoors in January, resting and preparing for the work to come.