Spring time views

The coming of spring means the coming of regular yard work.  And, at the end of the day, it's worth it. 

While spring is not my favorite time of year (I know, that kind of southerner am I?), the two weeks the large-flowered white azaleas bloom fill me with a contented joy.  The photograph to the left is of the front of the house, a view I particularly like.

The worst of the pine pollen is over.  We will reopen the screened porch tomorrow, giving ourselves another room to enjoy and a view of the backyard and pond that's hard to leave.

View.  Contemplate.  Behold.  Such a good concept.  And, an aspect of spring I do appreciate very much.     

Flirtatious spring

Spring has been on the coy side this year, warm and cool temperatures alternating rather energetically. Yesterday afternoon Tal and I enjoyed a slow walk along the Willowbank side of Country Club Pond and in the yard. It was such a pretty day, even with the wind giving the new foliage a thrashing. I was glad simply to be walking around casually trying to freeze the action in a few photographs, unlike the golfers in a high profile, high stakes final round at The Augusta National a few dozen miles to our west.

Tal had done the mowing and edging around the house Thursday afternoon in anticipation of our house guests' arrival and yesterday it was at that just right place, the edges soft. There is quite a bit in bloom, the native azaleas demanding the eye's attention. We are making a habit of drinking them in each day, knowing how soon they will be finished. That said, we are missing the show of the southern azaleas almost all together, but the sudden freeze a few weeks ago left most of the buds damaged, giving us next year's bloom to anticipate.