Spring Garden Walk & Mr. T

After severe thunderstorms and buckets of rain my garden is blooming everywhere!  I love perennials as each year they multiply and reward me with lots of flowers.

The sun came out this morning and it is a gorgeous day outside.  My garden walk is always a reminder of 

God's love and care.

Roses are blooming...

and my iris border has never looked better.  I don't know how many are planted in this bed.   This border is behind our fence and was planted by the previous owner and over the years the number has multiplied.  I enjoy them so much and there is plenty for cutting!

This honeysuckle smells so good right now and the  'Henri' clematis is in
 full  bloom.

My roses finally made it to the top of the arbor... it took three full growing seasons!

I love azaleas in bloom..they are the prettiest pink!

The hydrangeas are in the back of my shade border and are loaded with blooms...can't wait till they are ready for cutting! 

Pink double knockouts add so much color to this corner of my backyard!

'America'  roses are blooming too...my hubbie gave me three climbers for  
 Mother's Day!

East facing border

Japanese Snowball bush with a few blooms of a wisteria vine mingled through.    I love the fragrance!

Dutch iris

I actually started this red knockout rose from a cutting three years ago..they are so easy to grow, care for and propagate..if you don't have any of these roses I highly recommend them!   

Mixed border

Double creeping buttercups make a great evergreen ground cover and bloom in April with the sweetest little
 yellow flowers. 





I edge my borders with this 
hardy little plant!  




Double variegated impatiens...just couldn't resist purchasing this at the nursery....





and look who showed up in my garden
two weeks ago...

Mr. T!  

 I just love seeing him after a long winter...he's been in my yard for years and I'm always amazed he has made it through another year...drought, cold weather,  softball size hail and even a very busy lake road and he still survives!   

Hope you get out and enjoy a garden walk and some spring bloomers!


I'm joining 


Susan's Outdoor Wednesdays
Tootsie Fertilizer Friday
Beverly's Pink Saturday 
and 
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday

Monarch Spring Tea Table

I love waking up to a sunny spring morning and having fresh 
flowers on the table! 

 I put together a butterfly table to celebrate the monarch's spring migration. 

This week the monarchs started migrating through Oklahoma.  Wildflowers are blooming along the roadways and providing a steady food source for their journey. 

Monarchs are so amazing and I am always happy to see them return to my garden.
Giving them a place to land, eat and reproduce is one of my goals every summer.  I not only want to attract them but to help them along their way.

Planting a butterfly bush in the garden guarantees lots of visits and lots of nectar.  I also plant many other species of flowers they love to visit like Pentas.   
Pentas come in shades of pinks, white purple and red.

Pentas


Several years ago we had hundreds of monarchs clustered in our pecan trees as they stopped for the night and took a break from their long journey down south.  They can't fly if it's too cold so we were thrilled they decided to spend a chilly night in our trees. 

The next morning when the sun came out and warmed the air we watched as hundreds started to flutter about and 
then fly away!


  We have recently visited two Monarch sanctuaries in California where thousands migrate for the winter.  What an amazing journey they make!

Pacific Grove and Pismo Beach are  along California's
 central coast and have abundant eucalyptus groves and pines where the Monarchs love spending their winters.

The monarch is Pacific Grove's city mascot and you see them depicted throughout the city.

I love this garden bench that was in the butterfly sanctuary...wouldn't it look great in a corner of any garden!?

Pismo Beach has the largest colony of monarchs in the western United States!

Monarchs hang in clusters with their wings closed...they look like brown leaves on the trees and are somewhat hard to see.  

For a nature lover like me seeing this many butterflies in one place 

was a real treat and a reminder of how wonderful God's creation is!  


So my table this week is a celebration of their arrival to Oklahoma.

Monarch napkin rings set the 
tone for the table.

I purchased the napkin rings while in Pacific Grove several years ago at the cutest garden and gift store Trellis . Such a beautiful place to shop, click the link for more pictures.      

The tablecloth and napkins were purchased  at Stein-Mart this year.  I love the bold  floral pattern and that the fabric is indoor/outdoor.          

My sunflower plates seemed perfect with the butterflies.

I added this candleholder with the monarch motif.

This grocery store flower bouquet is a combination of  favorite flowers and spring colors.  Fuchsia pink gerbera daisies are so pretty!

The cake stand is one my favorites and is used for a teapot/coffee pot pedestal on many occasions. 

The ironstone tea/coffee pot was purchased from Goodwill for $5
and I was so excited to find it!

The cups are Johnson Brothers from England and were also found at a thrift store four for $3.  Hard to resist that price! 

Place settings

Tiny bud vase with flowers
 from my garden. 

When planting your garden this spring remember to add a few butterfly flowers to your border.
Milkweed is one plant that is really needed to help with their life cycle and migration. 



source


Have a Blessed and Happy Easter!


Linking with:


Show off your Cottage Monday
Marty's Tabletop Tuesdays
Kathleen's Let Dish 
 Tea Time Tuesday  and
Tablescape Thursdays