Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Spring Foliage

Taking a walk around the Pines you'll find more than evergreen trees. Going up the side and back of the yard, before you get to our woods, you'll find a ton of foliage that blooms, produces fruit, or will give you poison ivy if you're not careful! Sometimes you'll run into some surprises...Every Spring I find this crazy climbing rose bush in bloom. It only blooms once so it's a gift when they open. It's in the back of the yard near where the wood pile used to be.
The blooms are very pretty and if this area wasn't so shaded, they might even bloom more than once. Or maybe if I pruned them and treated them more like I would the roses I have near the house they would do better. I don't know. I like seeing the wildness of them and wonder why they were there in the first place.
I don't always know what everything is called, but I enjoy the view anyway.
I've blogged about this area a million times this year. This is the entrance to the Creepy Woods and it looks like it would be a lovely path to follow. Deceiving...
The path then turns to this...overgrown. If I would bring up the big weed wacker I could get it under control, but since we don't wander up here in the summer, I like to wait until the fall when it's cooler, less buggy and I'm anticipating a haunted hike for Halloween..more fun!
It's starts to get more lush, dark and, well just a bit creepy, as you go farther in..so I think I'll just turn around and head back!
At the back of the yard, although you can't tell by this photo, there is a path just to the right that will take you to a different entrance to the Creepy Woods. It's lined with black raspberry bushes and elderberry trees. If you can brave the bugs and mosquitoes to pick them, a jam and jelly fest is sure to start!
Getting closer to the house and right near the veggie garden we planted raspberry bushes. I love making jam with them and it looks like a good crop this year! If I can keep the deer away...
Around the house in the front we have a rhododendron bush. The blooms on a rhododendron don't last forever so I wanted to snap a pic of this before it was done. They are so pretty and it's a shame they can't stay like this all summer. Maybe I would take this beauty for granted if it was always around.
We've been redoing the deck this past week..as I was getting ready with the paint Jack spotted this little guy hanging around. I'd seen him before, hanging on the back door and once on the window that looks into my kitchen. Hope he'll enjoy the deck better after the paint job! I know I will.

17 comments:

Hilary said...

What a lovely area. I'd be very tempted to explore your creepy woods but I can see how it would be more appealing in autumn.. and particularly Halloween.

MunirGhiasuddin said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures. The roses are very unusual shade of majenta (is it). They are very pretty. The trails remind me of the ones in Bowdoin Park here in New York (Dutchess County). Enjoy the deck after it is done. It will be worth the time and energy spent on it. Happy Summer (soon to be).

Bonnie said...

So, so, so, so pretty. I have a ton of trees in my backyard, too, and it makes for such gorgeous scenery. Of course, I never go outside to enjoy them because I am petrified of bugs and rabid animals.

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Wander to the Wayside said...

I love yards like this, and it makes me homesick for our last home which was like this. Alas, now any growth we have is what I've planted the past five years to hide the neighbors! Love the rhododendrum!

(f.y.i. for some reason I've only been able to comment on any blog sporadically this last month, don't know if it's blogger or my google account or something wrong with my 'cookies', whatever that is! So if this actually posts, I'll be shocked!)

Susan Anderson said...

I know I would LOVE where you live. And the whole Creepy Woods thing just captures my imagination!

=)

allison tait said...

Looks beautiful! I love nature's surprises, and your crazy rose looks like a beauty.

karen said...

You live in a lovely part of the country. Do you get cicadas when they come around? We were in Ohio a few years back and it was a cicada year - they are very loud for such a small insect! Your woods are beautiful but I see why you turn back when they get dark and creepy! The flowers and beautiful foliage make me want to come for a visit!

acorn hollow said...

What a lovely yard. I would go in the creepy woods also I bet you would find all kinds of good stuff. and your frog looks mad you took his picture.
Cathy

selvageedge said...

I love your home and yard. Thanks for the pretty pictures. I hope you are not itchy after your venture into the creepy woods. :)

Donna said...

Your nature pics are wonderful! Love the roses and especially the frog!
Be glad you missed today! They are still working tonight. 4 add ons. I felt bad leaving following class. Hope you feel better!

Stacy said...

I love your area too. The frog would be Kayla's favorite thing. She loves catching them.

Darlene said...

You are so fortunate to have such a neat thing to blog about (Your creepy woods.} I never get tired seeing pictures of it. As for me, I don't seem to have anything of interest to write about so may have to take another vacation from blogging. My brain just can't think of anything, and I'm supposed to do my blog tonight.

I love the picture of the frog too. He may like the finished deck better when it's painted, but I hope he doesn't decide to visit it before the paint dries.

Deb Shucka said...

The last photo is my favorite. :-)

You live in such a beautiful place and it's wonderful to know just how much you appreciate every bit of it.

CHERI said...

Beautiful flowers but ugly frog!!! The Creepy Woods would probably entice my grandson to explore and I'd be happy to go along...except for the mosquitoes!!! I hate those pesky things.

Holyoke Home said...

That frog is so cute! Those woods are so creepy!

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Honey what a great place you have to enjoy. Those creepy woods would be fun to investigate but like you fall would be better.
That rose bush is something way it only blooms one time a year. It made me think it might be an antique rose bush since it is out in the middle of woods. Was there a farm there before.
You can't kill those kind of roses or at least that is what I have heard.
Hope honey you have a great weekend.
Love ya
Maggie

Kerri said...

Your little frog has a mean/scary face! I hope we get to see before/after pictures of your deck...I've been wanting to redo ours...but don't know where to start or what to do. It probably just needs removed all together! We have a rhodendron bush too..and you're right it's such a shame that it only blooms a couple short weeks. Ours isn't looking so hot anymore. I need to pick all the dead stuff off!