THE IDES OF MARCH --- what is next?............

The last four days of March.  The end of the first quarter of the year 2011.  I just put my Christmas Tree away.  Before I know it I will be getting it out again. 

The winter flowers are now a thing of the past.  I saw some of the most beautiful poinsettias over the holidays - called Fantasy Poinsettias.  The flowers were many-colored with gold and silver sprinkles making them sparkle.  You can see how beautiful they were.

But now it is time to think spring.  April is just around the corner, my crocuses are in full bloom.  The tulips are up, as are some of my other perennials.  I am afraid they will get frosted, as winter isn't over yet, but I guess they know what they are doing.

Some of the first flowers we see are the Dandelions.  Lots and lots of Dandelions.  Entire areas are yellow instead of green.  But have you ever looked really closely at a Dandelion?  They are a beautiful flower, resembling the fall Chrysanthemum.  What do you think?

The trees are just beginning to bud out, the weeping willows already look green.  They are the first to get their leaves in the spring and the first to lose their leaves in the fall.   The dogwoods will be blooming soon, the magnolias, red buds, fruit trees, all of them will be wearing their spring colors, possibly their new Easter outfits.  The lilacs, rhododendron, azaleas, all that will be blooming. 

Then there are the times when the spring finery gets covered with snow.  Winter just doesn't always want to give way to spring.  When  you think it is all over, look what happens.  This is a Red Bud tree in bloom, covered with snow.

I think we have had it all this month of March:  Snow, sleet, hail, wind, rain,  floods, tornadoes, mud slides, all in our area.  This doesn't count the weather in other areas.  And the month isn't finished yet.  What will the next few days hold?

On Friday we will know.  Have a good week and God Bless.